Weeds
- Life after wilding pine control (Access: unrestricted)
Thomas Paul, Carol Rolando, Matt Scott, Fiona Dean and John Meredith, November 2020
New Zealand is in the middle of one of the largest wilding pine control programmes in the world. Wilding pines are conifers growing in the wrong places. Spreading from early forestry, shelterbelt…
- The Pukaki wilding fire (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, November 2020
The main spreading tree species on the western shores of Lake Pukaki is the worst one, contorta pine, although there is quite a bit of Douglas-fir and larch. Other spreading conifers,…
- The Douglas-fir dilemma: Exploiting a reluctance to reproduce in the fight against wildings (Access: NZFFA membership)
Cathie Reeves, May 2020
Douglas-fir are notorious for their tendency to turn feral and spread themselves into places they are not wanted. Unfortunately, this ability to run wild limits where they can be planted,…
- The wind in the wildings (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, Ian Harman and John Finnigan, February 2020
New Zealanders, particularly those in rural areas, are generally very aware of the climatic environment in which they live – mainly concerning temperature, rainfall and wind. They can confidently relate…
- Search and destroy: Managing the wilding pine problem (Access: unrestricted)
Michelle Harnett, November 2019
Wilding pines are unplanned and unwanted. Wildings from windblown seeds from early forestry, shelterbelt and farm plantings are invading neighbouring ecosystems. The area affected by wilding pines in New Zealand…
- What is wrong with wilding trees? (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, November 2017
Two years ago, the New Zealand wilding control management strategy was written. Its conclusion of ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ was sufficiently convincing that a business case for control…
- Clean and green – controlling weeds in planted forests (Access: unrestricted)
Carol Rolando, Brenda Baillie, Loretta Garrett and Michelle Harnett, August 2015
Herbicide use in planted forests is changing in response to consumer demand for wood and wood products from sustainably managed forests. Six years of research at Scion, focussing on minimising…
- What is wrong with wildings? (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, May 2011
What is wrong with wilding trees? This would be the most frequent question I am asked. The people looking for an answer are increasingly aware that many forests which have…
- Broom and gorse - are we as awake as we should be? (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, May 2005
This article is a departure from the normal tree topics, but it involves a couple of woody plants with which most of us are equally familiar - namely broom Cytisus…
- Mt Barker wilding Corsican pines (Access: unrestricted)
John Purey-Cust, May 2008
Nick Ledgard and Gordon Baker’s wilding pine management joint venture on land owned by Canterbury University Wilding pines covering the hillside All from a shelter belt The wildings, predominantly Corsican…
- Weeds in indigenous forests (Access: unrestricted)
Melissa Brignall-Theyer, Sarah Richardson and Susan Wiser, May 2008
The most challenging weeds for managed indigenous forests are those that can disperse into harvested areas, prevent regeneration of native tree species or persist as potential competitors to adult native…
- Pastoral farming, belief and propaganda Dean Satchell's blog, May 28, 2022
When I think about Ukraine's plight for freedom and the disinformation coming from the Russian propaganda machine, I am reminded of just how strong human belief is, and how easily…
- What's wrong with wilding trees? Nick Ledgard's Blog, July 07, 2016
Having been a high country forester all my working life and spent much of the later years dealing with wildings, I have long pondered on the pro's and con's of…
- Land Information NZ develops wildling tool January 2019
A new tool to enable the public to help fight one of New Zealand’s most invasive species has been created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). Wilding Watch can be…
- Wilding conifer work plan announced July 2017
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry have announced the Government will control the spread of wilding conifers over an additional five priority areas this year in…
- Managing weeds in planted forests August 2015
In a new Scion video, Dr Carol Rolando talks about recent research looking at managing weeds in planted forests. Scion scientists, led by Dr Carol Rolando, have confirmed that most…
- Minimising the environmental impact of weed management in New Zealand’s planted forests August 2015
Field trials of herbicides in forest weed management were undertaken in this Sustainable Farming Fund programme. To retain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and other certification status, certified forests will need to…
- Giving forests a head start with good weed control November 2014
Effective weed control contributes significantly to the survival and growth of newly planted stands, and also promotes productivity throughout the life of the stand. November 2014 Scion’s Weed Management Team…
- Wilding conifer ID guide
A new field guide has been developed for identifying high country wilding conifers, and is available free for download
- New Zealand Wilding Conifer Management Group
A Group dedicated to support the active management of wilding conifer infestations in New Zealand
- Guidelines for the use of the Decision Support System “Calculating Wilding Spread Risk From New Plantings”
Assessing the risk of wilding spread is the first step for any afforestation proposal.
- Forest weed control manual
FRI Bulletin No. 180, Davenhill, N. A; Ray, J W; Vanner, A L (1997).
- Minimising the environmental impact of weed management in New Zealand’s planted forests
Carol Rolando and Michelle Harnett, June 2015, NZFRI ltd.
- Good Practice for Aerial Wanding (Basal Bark Application) of Wilding Conifers
30 May 2017, National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, Christchurch
- Cost benefit analysis of wilding conifer management in New Zealand - Part 1: Impacts under current management
Velarde, S., T. Paul, J. Monge and R. Yao (2015).
- Alternatives to the chemical control of weeds: Proceedings of an international conference, 25-27 July, 1989
FRI Bulletin No. 155, Bassett, C., L. J. Whitehouse and J. A. Zabkiewicz (1990).
- Species of Cortaderia (pampas grasses and toetoe) in New Zealand
FRI Bulletin No. 105, Knowles, B. and C. Ecroyd (1985).
Farm Forestry - Headlines
Article archive »
- Update to the Forest Owners Association Road Engineering Manual: Forest Road Design for HPMVs.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
The NZFOA/NZFFA Transport and Logistics committee is pleased to announce the release of a new appendix to the New Zealand Forest Owners Road Engineering Manual, titled Forest Roads for High…
- Emissions Trading Scheme fee review a relief for cost-struck foresters
Thursday, February 29, 2024
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association says the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) fees is a relief for foresters facing excessive costs and loss of climate change action. …
- Planting trees on pasture can have a positive impact on soil health
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Rather than damaging soil in New Zealand, planting trees on pasture restores soil to be similar to its original condition. A recent news story highlighting changes in soils from converting…
- Forest plantation soils have benefits too
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
The Forest Owners Association (FOA) says the fact that soils under plantation forests are similar to soils under native trees, does not make them damaged, as a recent Newshub report has claimed.…
- Wilding Conifers - A legacy issue that needs continued, collaborative management
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Forest owners welcome the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCE) acknowledgement that the presence of wilding conifers across New Zealand is largely a legacy issue, but caution against placing costs…
- Stock take of the commercially viable alternatives to Pinus radiata
Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Scion has published a “Stock Take of the Commercially Viable Alternatives to Pinus Radiata” for MPI, which reviews alternative species, their expected growth rates, climatic range, resilience to pests or…
- SNA regulations 'confusing ecological naivety'
Thursday, July 06, 2023
Forest Owners say the just released National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) is a classic bureaucratic formula of confusing ecological naivety which will not help rare species and likely…
- Primary sector leadership not addressing economics as the real climate change issue
Tuesday, July 04, 2023
The immediate past president of the Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) says the leaders of the primary sector and government are ineffectively tinkering with lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Graham West says the…
- Forest Owners hail ‘Biosecurity Hero’
Monday, May 22, 2023
The Forest Owners Association and Scion want more people to report suspicious imported wood products which might be infested with introduced wood and forest pests. FOA Biosecurity Manager, Brendan Gould,…
- Ministerial inquiry could have widespread implications for Tairawhiti community
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry says the just announced Tairawhiti land use inquiry is recommending measures which will stop the very activities which are vital for the region’s recovery.…
- Tairawhiti land use inquiry not addressing wider issues
Sunday, May 14, 2023
The Forest Owners Association says the Ministerial Inquiry into landuse in Tarawhiti has a core of practical recommendations, but has not addressed some more difficult and fundamental issues. President, Grant…
- Forest Owners say carbon-only forestry should be kept off productive land
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The Forest Owners Association would like to see production forestry and farming on productive land – rather than this land used for carbon-only forests. It says this should be a…
- Opportunities from Trees Workshops - NZ Wide
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) is running 18 extension workshops in May and June with a target audience of landowners, or people with access to land, who are potential tree…
- Forest Owners back more trees for Tairawhiti
Sunday, April 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Association has told the Ministerial Inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti, that the region’s future has to include more trees for land stability. But it appreciates forest…
- Small scale woodlot owners have their say in Tairawhiti Land use Inquiry
Sunday, April 02, 2023
he outgoing President of the Farm Forestry Association says it has been vital for farm foresters to directly address the Ministerial Inquiry into forestry and other land use in Tairāwhiti.…
- Future forests need to be multifunctional to meet climate change in Tairawhiti
Thursday, March 16, 2023
The Farm Forestry Association says the just convened Ministerial Inquiry, into land-use across Tairāwhiti, needs to look closely at the tree options for shoring up vulnerable farm and former forest land in…
- Hill country farming campaign shows they think climate change is someone else’s problem
Thursday, March 09, 2023
The Forest Owners Association says the latest campaign against forestry, led by Beef+Lamb New Zealand and 50 Shades of Green, is climate change responsibility denial, and is dangerous in the…
- Forest Owners says two months too brief to look into the complex land issues in Tairawhiti.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
The Forest Owners Association says the two month long inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti doesn’t give enough time or depth to find solutions. The Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins has…
- Forest Owners want genetic technology approved
Thursday, February 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Organisation says New Zealand needs to concentrate on the safety of genetic technology on a case-by-case basis rather than persisting with blanket bans. The FOA wants approval…
- Fieldays Forestry Hub to demonstrate that forestry is a solution
Monday, November 28, 2022
A range of solutions to farmers’ current problems will be on display in the Fieldays Forestry Hub near Hamilton between 30 November and 3 December, says Farm Forestry Association president,…