Whacking wilding spread in the Whakatipu

There are some excellent examples across the motu of seed sources being removed. 

In Queenstown, as some of the readers will remember from the Wilding Pine Network Conference in 2023, wildings and the town are intertwined. Seed source removal can be particularly difficult due to both the community's enjoyment of what seems like a post-card worthy, alpine-flavoured environment, and the challenging terrain. 
The amount that has been removed to date is a testament to the hard work of the Whakatipu Wilding Control Group (WCG).

The WCG is getting on top of wilding spread, literally - Sue Rose, WCG Funding Manager stamps the group's boot mark on the stumps of their Alpine Retreat harvesting operation. Previous control and cleared areas visible in the background.

Recently the group completed a job to remove a significant stand of trees from the Alpine Retreat Road near Bobs Peak. These trees were a mixture of species (predominantly Douglas Fir and Corsican Pine), adjacent to the hard-won cleared areas of Ben Lomond.

This removal is a significant step in the progressive removal of the wider seed source around Queenstown, protecting the iconic New Zealand native landscapes that surround it.  

Another massive win for the Whakatipu environment is a decision in September by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to adopt a new approach to the exotic trees on Queenstown Hill. The Te Tapunui Queenstown Hill Reserve Restoration Management Plan will see the wilding risk of this seed source dramatically reduced and a biodiversity restoration programme undertaken.

This is a victory for wilding spread and comes after consultation with the community, including input from the WCG.

As explained on the QLDC website "[The plan] guides the staged removal of invasive wilding trees and supports the restoration of a healthy, diverse forest. It will assess the current tree cover and site conditions, and outline options for the harvesting of wilding trees species and the new plants that will replace them."  

Congratulations to the WCG for your work, both in getting your own boots on the ground (paid or volunteer) and in working with landowners and your community to make informed decisions around wilding risk management.