In its 2005 Pest Management Strategy the Canterbury Regional Council (Ecan) has the objective of eradicating all self-sown wilding conifers in ecologically sensitive areas in its jurisdiction. The Department of Conservation manages wilding conifers on public land under its jurisdiction. There are sixteen different regions in New Zealand and wilding conifers only occur in a few of these regions, predominantly in the South Island. Pest management is administered by regional councils. Adapted from Wilding conifers – New Zealand history and research background. Locations of major wilding conifer areas. In 2004 a spraying operation by the Department of Conservation at Mid Dome in the Southland region caused spray drift onto surrounding areas including the towns of Athol and Kingston. Mechanical removal by hand pulling seedlings, and the use of brush cutters and chainsaws are common control methods.

As well as volunteers organised by environmental groups, regional councils and the Department of Conservation invest in wild conifer removal.Ī South Island Wilding Conifer Management Group was formed in 2006 and obtained funding from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Sustainable Farming Fund. Without any control measures, wilding conifers will spread over an increasing area with economic and environmental consequences. Radiata pine ( Pinus radiata) is used for 90% of the plantation forests in New Zealand and some of the wilding conifer is a result of these forests. The various species dominate in different areas of New Zealand. Radiata pine (Monterey pine, Pinus radiata).There are ten main species that have become wildings: The trees have almost completely blanketed the flanks of the lower section of the valley. European larch and other invasive conifers in the Jollie River.

Wilding tree