Land management for conservation
Light grazing: It is possible to allow light grazing - one sheep every three or more hectares - in selected areas but the tussock may become too dense for stock penetration, in the absence of burning. DOC looks at grazing case by case, with conservation objectives paramount. Burning damages tussock regeneration, although spring burning has about half the impact on tussocks of summer burning.
Allow nature to take its course: DOC's most common management practice in the high country, in which native species must cope with wild animal pests and weeds.
Control of thar, chamois, deer, rabbits and hares: Ranges and abundances of pests are increasing in many cases. Rabbit numbers go up as vegetation decreases because they prefer open country, and will continue to attract stoats, ferrets and weasels, with possible impacts on native fauna. Pest control will need to be tailored to values to be protected.
Topdressing speeds up regeneration, but benefits exotics as well as natives. Selected fertilisers promote nitrogen-fixers and taller natives over shorter exotics. More research is needed.
Seed sowing and raking the soil to release nutrients could re-establish woody shrubs. Nursery stock of intermediate and late successional woody species would be needed.
Helicopter-based wilding pine control
operation near Wanaka
Weed management: In 2004-2005 DOC will spend $13.80 a hectare managing weeds in priority areas, including in the high country, over more than 650,000 ha nationwide. DOC and conservation groups are the main actors in wilding pine control.
Hieracium is a problem. Strong, tall tussock will cover hieracium but smaller tussocks will not. As high country reverts to woody shrublands, the hieracium will eventually disappear from those areas. Fertilise tussocklands, and native species, where seed source is available, will push through the hieracium.
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