Weed action at Otanomomo Scientific Reserve
Sycamore
Travelling at 100 km/hr all looks well with the forest at Otanomomo Reserve and magnificent emergent crowns of rimu, kahikatea and matai tower above the canopy. But underneath the canopy there is a different scenario unfolding with weeds threatening to cut the life of this forest short.
The 37 hectare Otanomomo Scientific Reserve, 10 km south of Balclutha on the road to Owaka, is an important remnant of coastal podocarp forest. This forest type is rare not only in Otago but in most parts of New Zealand. The reserve is also home to a small population of the endangered tree daisy Olearia hectorii.
Fortunately, help is at hand for this struggling forest. The Dunedin Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society has been contracted by DOC to undertake 'close encounter' weed control at Otanomomo. Their aim is to restore a self-sustaining and regenerating native understorey that is resistant to further weed invasion. The project also aims to enhance and protect the population of Olearia hectorii.
Chilean flame creeper in flower
The project depends heavily on the work of volunteers and includes members of the South Otago and Dunedin branches of Forest and Bird, the Students for Environmental Action of the University of Otago, the Otago University Tramping Club, DOC and members of the public. These individuals are driven by the tremendous potential of their weeding operation. As Ken Mason, of Dunedin Forest and Bird, says; "I can still see we will be dealing with a moderate to small weed problem but I also see huge community involvement. I see a track and plantings and restoration that will make this an asset not just to Balclutha but wider afield".
Large areas of the forest are infested with Chilean Flame Creeper (Tropaeolum speciosum), blackberry (Rubus fruiticosus) and a suite of weeds that have escaped from home gardens including hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), holly (Ilex aquifolium), spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus), Daphne (Daphne laureola), flowering (DME) (Ribes sanguineum) and gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa). Chilean Flame Creeper is especially abundant in tree fall gaps within the forest.
Elderberry
Initial work, including identification of priority areas for control and cutting of access routes was completed last winter. Comprehensive weed control is currently being done by the volunteers whilst the weeds are actively growing and are most susceptible to chemical herbicides.
The reserve is also interesting from a historical perspective with the grave of Thomas Redpath Otanomomo's first storekeeper in the late 1840's.
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