Successful biodiversity project in South Canterbury

Environment Canterbury today reported the successful conclusion of a biodiversity project at Levels Valley, near Timaru.

Local farmer Tim Morrow owns a farm block and recently changed the irrigation method he was using.
Biodiversity Officer Emma Coleman says that while undertaking development on his block, Tim also wanted to protect and enhance the section of Papake Stream that runs through it. “He has had great success with his plantings,” Emma said.

Papake Stream is an intermittently flowing waterway mostly characterised by a series of ponds. It is also an important waterway for the dispersal of water during high rainfall.

Tim’s farm is close to some recognised sites for Canterbury mudfish. He believes it is important that the irrigation development does not impact these downstream areas.

Tim approached Environment Canterbury in 2008 for advice on the best way to proceed. Environment Canterbury produced a riparian planting plan, which Tim says he found “very informative and useful” to guide the project.

Tim fenced the section of stream off and applied for assistance for planting the riparian strip through Environment Canterbury biodiversity funding. This funding is designed to help landowners undertake on the ground actions to protect and enhance biodiversity.

The project area is 1.7 hectares and the total fencing length 1300 metres. Tim achieved close to 100% plant survival rates.

He believes this success is due to using two-year-old plant stock, which has been grown well (well-fed plants, hardened off), weed control before planting (two sprays, one in winter and one before planting) and weed control after planting (spot spraying and grubbing around plants in spring). “It’s actually quite easy to do,” he says.

Tim sourced most of his plants from Lester Davies at Matai Nurseries. “The plants have all been hardy and resilient, essential to surviving the frosts in the valley,” Tim says. Species sourced locally including cabbage tree, sedges, flax, broadleaf, kohuhu, manuka, toi toi and koromiko.

Once riparian vegetation becomes established it can provide shade to restrict weed growth within the stream. Areas shaded by bank vegetation often show a distinct improvement in invertebrate quality and habitat diversity.

Trees, shrubs and grasses greatly improve the stability of stream banks and enhance native biodiversity. Riparian zones can store and slow drainage water movement during high flow events and will also trap sediment derived from runoff and flooding, thus protecting downstream water quality. “It will look really good in a couple of years, once the plants have grown,” Tim says.

Background

Environment Canterbury recently announced the allocation of almost a quarter of a million dollars to a range of important biodiversity projects across the Canterbury region, including Papake Stream.

This money is in addition to Immediate Steps biodiversity funding to ensure that all Canterbury Water Management Strategy biodiversity targets can be achieved.

These projects will protect and enhance a variety of ecosystem types, including wetlands, lowland streams and native vegetation remnants. Projects include native plantings, weed control, pest and stock proof fencing.

More than $243,000 in biodiversity support funding was granted in the current round and the year-to-date figure now exceeds $380,000.

Landowners who believe they have a good idea for a biodiversity project deserving support should contact their local Environment Canterbury Biodiversity Officer via 0800 324 636 or biodiversity@ecan.govt.nz