Native plants are the foundation upon which New Zealand's biodiverse ecosystems thrive, offering myriad benefits to the environment and the communities that depend on them. In this blog, we will delve into the important role native plants play in the environment and how they are a vital factor in increased biodiversity, especially native biodiversity. We will explore how the ecosystems created by native plants, support waterway health and provide essential habitats for our native wildlife. Planting natives to re-establish a historic forest or planting out a new area, provides the groundwork for our native fauna, flora, and fungi to thrive.
Re-establishing native planted areas
The restoration of native planted areas involves the deliberate reintroduction of indigenous plant species into landscapes that have been altered by human activity. This process is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, native plants are inherently adapted to their local environments, making them more resilient to climate conditions and less reliant on human intervention for survival. By encouraging the growth of native species, we can create landscapes that are better equipped to withstand environmental stressors such as drought, disease, and extreme weather events.
Re-establishing native planted areas is also known as native restoration or revegetation. This can be achieved through various methods, choosing a method is usually determined by factors such as the site conditions, how fast the client wants the area to be fully established, and how much of the area already has natives growing on it.
Generally, restoration would follow a path of eco-sourcing seeds and then growing the plants, which are then planted back onto the site to continue growing and naturally reproducing through seeds, carried and deposited by the wind and birds. Cover crops such as manuka and kanuka may be planted a few years prior to provide shelter for more vulnerable species. On some sites, reintroducing native plants is not required at all, fencing and predator control can be enough to restore an area to its natural, native state, however, this does take longer.
The impact of native plants on waterways
One of the most significant benefits of re-establishing native planted areas is the positive impact it has on waterway health. Native plants possess unique root structures that help to stabilise soil and prevent erosion. When planted along riverbanks and shorelines, native vegetation helps to reduce sediment runoff, by filtering out excess sediment and pollutants. Plants are even used in Phytoremediation, which is a remediation method that uses living plants to clean up soil, air and water that contains hazardous contaminants.
Waterways bordered by native vegetation are cleaner and healthier, providing essential habitat for aquatic life. Generic pictures of the ‘clean, green’ New Zealand bush show pristine lakes, rivers and streams, these waterways are like this because they are boarded by untouched, native bush. On the other hand, you can drive through our towns and cities and a lot of the waterways we see are dirty or polluted because they often don’t have native trees and plants along their banks which makes it easy for rubbish and other pollutants to enter the waterways.
Here are some examples of how native plants impact the biodiversity in waterways:
- Overhanging vegetation provides shade to water bodies, preventing overheating during hot weather. Maintaining optimal water temperatures is crucial for many aquatic species, as it influences their growth, reproduction, and overall health.
- Fallen leaves, branches, and other organic matter from native plants serve as food and shelter for aquatic insects, which in turn are prey for fish and other aquatic species.
- Submerged aquatic plants contribute to the oxygenation of water through photosynthesis. During the day, these plants release oxygen into the water, which is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms.
- The roots of native plants help stabilise the banks of rivers and streams, preventing erosion and maintaining the integrity of aquatic habitats. Stable banks provide shelter and breeding areas for fish and other aquatic species.
How native plants provide natural habitats
Because of their suitability for our local environments, native plants play a vital role in promoting biodiversity. Unlike non-native species, which often outcompete native flora and fauna, native plants provide essential habitat and food sources for local wildlife. For example, the mighty Totara tree produces small red berries that are irresistible to our native birds like the Kereru (Wood Pigeon). Manuka provides food and nest-building material for the flightless kakapo and mingimingi provides thick ground cover for shelter and produces small berries that help supplement the diet of our native lizards.
Habitat is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as: “the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism”. Native plants provide this ‘natural home’ because it provides shelter, food and water which are the essential elements for living things to survive. Dense vegetation offers cover and protection from predators and harsh weather conditions. And many native plants have thorns, spines, or prickles that deter predators and provide safe havens for smaller animals to hide and rest. The same plants and trees that provide protection also have material and foliage, like moss, twigs and bark that a wide range of wildlife use to make their nests.
Plants produce fruits, seeds, nectar, and pollen which are important food sources for birds, insects, and small mammals to feed on, contributing to their survival and reproduction. Plants also play an important role in connecting larger concentrations of biodiversity. These are usually called corridors as they allow wildlife to move and migrate across landscapes which is crucial for maintaining healthy populations and genetic diversity among species.
Conclusion
The re-establishment of native planted areas is essential for promoting biodiversity, supporting waterway health, and contributing to the overall ecological balance. By embracing native species, we can create landscapes that are not only more resilient to environmental stressors but also more ecologically sustainable in the long term.
It is our responsibility to protect and preserve native plant communities so future generations can enjoy forests, waterways and urban areas that are rich with New Zealand's beautiful native biodiversity. Contact us or come and visit our nursery to discuss your upcoming project and explore how our selection of native plants and generations of knowledge can help you, to do your part in sustaining our nation's biodiversity.