Erosion and sediment control using New Zealand native plants - what do we know?
- Author
- Phillip, C.
- Year
- 2005
- Journal / Source
- Erosion Control Seminar
- Month
- September
- Pages
- 17
- Keywords
- native plants, erosion, sediment control, root growth, root morphology, soil reinforcement.
- Summary
- This paper outlines what we know about the use of New Zealand’s native plants for erosion and sediment control. It presents a limited review of unpublished and published information. In general terms, our detailed knowledge about what makes a native plant useful for erosion and sediment control is poor. Limited data do exist for a number of species. Most are for a few species, of a limited age range and sample number, and only collected in the last 10 years or so. This paucity of quantitative data is set in the context of a resurgence of interest in bringing more indigenous plants back into New Zealand’s managed or cultural landscapes. Much of the focus of this resurgence has been to enhance indigenous biodiversity and to improve water quality in streams. Opportunities to redress our shortfall in knowledge are beginning to appear in association with development industries such as roading, mining, and construction.