New Zealand’s high country is synonymous with its dramatic landscapes, rugged beauty, and challenging environmental conditions. For large landowners such as station managers and farmers, restoring these unique environments is an opportunity to stabilise land, enhance biodiversity, and create new income streams through carbon or biodiversity credits. With careful planning and the right native plants, it’s possible to regenerate resilient ecosystems that withstand the demands of high-altitude living.
The Challenges of High Country Restoration
Restoring high country landscapes isn’t without its difficulties:
- Harsh Winters: Freezing temperatures, heavy frosts, and snowfalls are common.
- Dry Summers: Limited rainfall can stress plants during critical growth phases.
- Exposure: High winds and strong sunlight create tough conditions for young plants.
- Erosion: Steep slopes and loose soil increase the risk of land degradation.
Fortunately, many of New Zealand’s native species are perfectly adapted to thrive in these environments.
Key Native Plants for High Country Restoration
Fuscospora cliffortioides (Mountain Beech)
- Description: A hardy tree with small, dark green leaves and a dense canopy, providing habitat for native birds and insects.
- Benefits: Stabilises soil, provides shelter, and tolerates frost and wind.
- Best Use: Plant on well-drained soils in gullies or sheltered slopes.
Chionochloa rubra (Red Tussock Grass)
- Description: A striking tussock with long, reddish-brown foliage that forms dense clumps.
- Benefits: Reduces erosion, stabilises soil, and offers cover for wildlife.
- Best Use: Ideal for erosion-prone slopes and exposed areas.
Phormium cookianum (Mountain Flax)
- Description: A smaller, hardy flax with arching green leaves and yellow flowers that attract birds.
- Benefits: Controls erosion, thrives in high-altitude settings, and enhances biodiversity.
- Best Use: Plant near streams, gullies, or damp areas to stabilise soil.
Podocarpus nivalis (Mountain Totara)
- Description: A sprawling shrub with needle-like leaves and small red berries that attract birds.
- Benefits: Excellent for ground cover, stabilising rocky soil, and providing wildlife food.
- Best Use: Plant in thin, rocky soils or high-altitude ridges.
Poa cita (Silver Tussock)
- Description: A native tussock grass with silvery-green foliage, perfect for stabilising loose soils.
- Benefits: Reduces erosion, tolerates frost and drought, and provides a striking visual element.
- Best Use: Plant in exposed, dry areas where its resilience is an asset.
Coprosma rugosa (Twiggy Coprosma)
- Description: A hardy shrub with tangle-like branches and small, leathery leaves.
- Benefits: Offers dense ground cover, reduces erosion, and survives in tough conditions.
- Best Use: Perfect for frost-prone areas and lower slopes.
Chionochloa rigida (Narrow-Leaved Snow Tussock)
- Description: A golden-green tussock that forms dense, clumping growth.
- Benefits: Holds soil on steep slopes, tolerates harsh winters, and provides habitat for insects.
- Best Use: Suited for subalpine regions and exposed ridges.
Steps to Successful High Country Restoration
- Assess the Site:
Consider factors such as altitude, soil type, slope steepness, and exposure to wind and sun. Identify areas most in need of stabilisation or regeneration. - Choose Suitable Plants:
- Erosion Control: Use species like Chionochloa rubra and Phormium cookianum.
- Shelter and Habitat: Plant Fuscospora cliffortioides or Olearia.
- Dry Exposed Areas: Opt for tussocks like chionochloa rubra and Poa cita.
- Prepare the Site:
Remove weeds and competing vegetation. Use erosion control measures like mulch or biodegradable mats where necessary. - Plant Strategically:
- Protect young plants with guards or fencing to prevent grazing.
- Mix species to create a diverse and resilient ecosystem.
- Space plants appropriately to allow for growth.
- Maintain the Site:
Monitor progress, control weeds, and replace plants as needed. Water young plants during dry spells and check for pest or disease issues.
Exploring New Income Streams: Carbon and Biodiversity Credits
High country restoration offers more than just environmental benefits—it can also be a source of income for large landowners through carbon and biodiversity credits. Native plants, especially trees like Fuscospora cliffortioides, sequester carbon as they grow. By registering your restoration project with a recognised carbon credit scheme, you can generate income while also restoring your land.
Biodiversity credits are a resonbly new in the world of environmental creditc. They reward landowners for restoring ecosystems and improving habitats for native species. High country projects that support rare or at-risk plants and animals may qualify for these credits, creating an additional incentive for restoration.
This is something you may want to explore before planting, talk to with experts from companies like My Native Forest.
Why Consider Credits?
- Economic Returns: Offset restoration costs and create a long-term income stream.
- Environmental Impact: Align your project with global sustainability efforts.
- Recognition: Showcase your farm or station as a leader in environmental stewardship.
The Long-Term Value of Restoration
Investing in high country restoration pays dividends beyond immediate land improvement. Restored ecosystems improve soil health, water quality, and resilience to extreme weather. They also create a legacy of biodiversity and environmental sustainability that future generations can enjoy.
By embracing restoration and exploring opportunities like carbon and biodiversity credits, station owners and farmers can secure their land’s future while contributing to New Zealand’s ecological heritage.
Start your high country restoration journey today. With the right plants and a clear vision, you can transform rugged landscapes into thriving ecosystems that benefit your land, your business, and the planet.