Reforesting Aotearoa New Zealand’s Lowlands
The Nature Conservancy is working to protect and manage connected, thriving landscapes to improve the well being of communities and the environment.
What Are Lowlands
Lowlands are the lower-level areas of New Zealand, often near the coast or river valleys, where most people live, work, farm and enjoy time in nature. Typically, these areas are below 500m above sea level, and feature ecosystems that are highly fragmented and depleted due to habitat loss from the clearance of native bush, wetlands and riparian areas – making lowlands our most threatened landscapes.
Most of Aotearoa New Zealand’s lowlands are not included in National Parks, as they are heavily farmed and modified. Traditional farming practices introduced highly invasive species to the lowlands and cleared many native forests and wetlands. In many cases, significant ecosystems have vanished or been dramatically reduced.
The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand (TNC NZ) is working with iwi (Māori tribes), farmers and communities with the vision of improving the biodiversity of lowlands at scale, and to provide habitat for some of New Zealand’s many native species of birds, bats, insects and plants found nowhere else on the planet. Approaches such as native planting, weed control, assisted natural regeneration and flood plain improvements will help us achieve our goals. TNC NZ is also looking at financial incentives to support landowners planting natives on any part of their land.
Quote: Abbie Reynolds
Our goal is that by 2050, 15% of lowlands are in healthy native cover, a tipping point where ecosystems can thrive.
Our Work
TNC NZ works in a variety of ways to advance lowland reforestation projects in New Zealand:
- Build spatial planning tools to prioritise areas for native reforestation.
- Survey landowner preferences to develop incentives that support design of catchment-scale restoration plans.
- Investigate carbon markets and other sustainable financing mechanisms to support restoration.
- Trial restoration methods to improve efficiencies.
- Transition pine plantations in erosion-prone areas to permanent native forests.
- Share our learnings to catalyse more action.
Restoration In Action
Protecting Flora
TNC and KMTT led a three-year project focused on controlling invasive weeds.
Restoring Lowlands at Scale
Read about a new study to investigate restoring Tasman District river catchments.
Top of the South Island
Across the lowlands of Te Tauihu o te Waka-ā-Māui ki Kawatiri, the top of the South Island and the Kawatiri/Buller region, habitat loss and fragmentation, and the resulting sedimentation into waterways and the marine area, are the key drivers of biodiversity decline and ecosystem degradation. Our valley floors, plains and coastal areas are depleted of natural vegetation cover, poorly connected and in a state of ongoing decline, including from introduced pests and weeds and the impacts of climate change such as droughts and floods.
In response, TNC NZ has launched a major native reforestation study to investigate how best to restore critical lowland forest habitat through its work with the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance (KMTT). The findings of the study will provide a long-term blueprint for large-scale native restoration in the top of the South Island and can also be used in other regions.
This restoration could generate carbon credits or other sustainable financing for landowners, providing a revenue stream to support climate resilience efforts. TNC NZ is also working on a number of smaller projects that will provide information about different approaches to growing native vegetation and partnership models.
Trees That Count
Building on planting efforts in previous years, TNC NZ and KMTT are partnering with Trees that Count to plant 5,000 trees at Martin's Creek estuary in the Buller River delta, 4,000 trees at Beuke’s Bush and 5,000 trees at Ruapaka wetland (in collaboration with Ngati Kuia) in 2025.
- In addition to bringing back important habitat for native species, our partnership with Kawatiri Nature Environment and Communities Trust to restore the Buller River Delta will contribute to floodplain mitigation against storm events and climate change. This Department of Conservation reserve is close to the beloved Kawatiri Coastal Trail, so the local community is highly invested in the restoration and can see the benefits.
- Beuke’s Bush is a highly precious remnant stand of lowland original bush (primarily totara), which has been cared for by the family landowners for a number of years with the support of Te Tauihu Environmental Trust and the local community undertaking restoration planting and weed control.
- The Ruapaka Wetland Restoration Project is being led by local iwi (tribe) Ngāti Kuia. It is a highly culturally significant site next to an urupā (cemetery), and it sits at the foot of their sacred hill Tūtūmāpou which flanks the Wakamarina River flowing down into the Pelorus Sound.
Wakapuaka Catchment in Nelson
TNC NZ and KMTT are partnering with Cable Bay Adventure Park, Te Uru Rākau and Nelson City Council to trial methodologies for assisted natural regeneration In the Wakapuaka catchment in Whakatū Nelson, with the goal of enabling a clear-felled pine plantation to naturally return to native bush. The region’s significant infestations of weed species such as old man’s beard and wilding pines make it very challenging for native forests to re-establish without the assistance of control work to give native trees and plants a head start against invasive species. We’re trialing different methods for controlling weeds and wilding pines in remote areas and rough terrain to provide learnings for future reforestation project.
Tasman Horticulture Restoration Project
TNC NZ and KMTT are partnering with industry and private landowners in the horticulture sector to improve water quality by restoring land along waterways through weed control, planting and protecting existing native bush. Horticulture is a significant proportion of the agricultural sector in Te Tai-o-Aorere, the Tasman District’s Motueka and Moutere catchments. A partnership with DB Breweries represents a valuable opportunity to include this industry in restoration work. Working in the rolling plains covered in rich soil, this project is working with the producers of many primary ingredients used in New Zealand’s thriving brewing industry – hops, apples and other fruits.
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