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Case Study: McIntoshes recommended plantings


Recommended plantings

Recommended works map (pdf)
Ten blocks covering approximately 200 ha have been targeted for afforestation:

Block 1:  6.8 ha of radiata pine below the shell rock.
Block 2:  3.0 ha of eucalyptus above the shell rock.
Block 3:   54.8 ha in Cupressus lusitanica.
Block 4:  54.6 ha in Pinus radiata, with the gully system in red alder (Alnus ruba).
Block 5:   5 ha in Pinus radiata.
Block 6:   14.6 ha in Himalayan cedar for production purposes.
Block 7:  16.0 ha of regenerating scrub, to be used as a nurse crop for blackwoods planted in light wells or cut lines.
Block 8:  26.1 ha with moderate to severe erosion and prone to drying out in the summer - to be planted in Pinus radiata.
Block 9:  A small siding of 2.3 ha - Douglas fir.
Block 10:   8.3 ha in Pinus radiata.

Managed Retirement

Areas with moderate to severe erosion, and where there is poor access or conditions for forestry, will gradually be retired from grazing. Sheep grazing will continue in the short to medium term, but with no further inputs such as fertiliser or scrub clearance, and cattle will be removed. Approximately 12.5 ha has been recommended for managed retirement, mostly areas that continually struggle to carry more than 4 stock units:

Managed retirement Block 1: 7.0 ha. Oaks will be planted around the edge for high value timber production and beautification.

Managed retirement Block 2: 5.5ha in regenerating scrub and bush between existing and proposed forestry blocks. When the latter is planted, this area will be retired to reduce the fencing requirements.

Enhancement Planting - Dam Paddock: Oaks and flax will be planted around the dam in Dam Paddock to enhance the ecological values.

Space Planted Trees

Space planted Manawatu Gold poplars at 12-15 metre spacings have been recommended on class VIe where there is slight to moderate erosion potential or on the colluvial foot-slopes of class VIIe land where there is adequate soil depth. The density of plantings is dependent on the erosion type and severity. One paddock is being planted at a time, so grazing management and stock policy can be more easily controlled to ensure maximum tree survival. Priority paddocks have been determined by erosion potential and the threat to assets and infrastructure. Pole planting should be done before mid- August using good quality stock that has not been lying around a nursery for several weeks.

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