For years the Department of Conservation, Environment Canterbury and Waimakariri Ecological Land Restoration Alliance have been working to slow the spread of wilding conifers.
Wilding conifers are invasive trees that are considered pests. They threaten 210,000ha of public land administered by the Department of Conservation in the South Island.
The Craigieburn Management Unit was one of the funding recipients of a Government plan to control wilding conifers back in 2016 and received $1.8 million.
Operations are taking place from Molesworth Station to the Lindis Pass with wilding control efforts starting at the main divide and working east.
More recent efforts have moved into farmland close to Craigieburn Forest Park and Arthur’s Pass National Park where many people pass using State Highway 73 and the Tranz Alpine.
ECan biosecurity adviser for special projects Steven Palmer says while the dying trees may look like destruction it is a benefit to biodiversity in the area.
“The upfront cost is substantial but it’s much more cost-effective than constant control efforts,” he said,
Teams are now almost three-quarters of the way through their initial cut and making steady progress in removing the pest pines, Mr Palmer said.
“After three years of control efforts, Arthur’s Pass National Park and Korowai-Torlesse Tussocklands Park are now protected from wilding infestation. it’s an expensive exercise. Fortunately, another $1.25 million in MPI funding has been allocated for the Craigieburn Management Unit this season.
He said the funding will ensure hard-fought gains become permanent with workers making further progress in eradicating mature trees and returning to previously covered areas to take out seedlings.
“We could have to go over these areas another three times over nine years,” he said.
“That should exhaust both the seed source and the seed bank in the ground.”
