Adaptive management of coastal forestry buffers - Section 1: Introduction Technical Report
- Author
- Tane's Tree Trust
- Year
- 2021
- Number
- 1
- Pages
- 10
- Species
- Pinus radiata, radiata pine
- Keywords
- pine, buffer, shelter
- Summary
- Research by the Coastal Restoration Trust already indicates the most significant factor that influences growth within coastal environments is the effects of prevailing onshore winds and increasing summer droughts cause high mortality of native plantings. This project capitalises on the existing shelter of exotic forest buffers to assist both natural regeneration and planting of local native tree species which in the long-term can replace failing exotics with a more sustainable and effective buffer. With a long history of grazing and exotic forestry, dunelands today only support small, limited forest remnants (if any). Where native seed sources are scarce, the establishment of ‘seed islands’ on selected sites will in time provide a greater diversity of native wind and bird dispersed seed to enhance the forest transition through natural regeneration. This will need to be complemented by more active management such as interplanting; control of grazing stock and pest browsing animals; weed control; and ideally seed predator control to protect seed dispersing birds. This transition strategy is discussed further in the following guidelines exploring options for establishing native trees via planting and encouraging natural regeneration.