Weeds
- Life after wilding pine control (Access: NZFFA membership)
Thomas Paul, Carol Rolando, Matt Scott, Fiona Dean and John Meredith, November 2020
New Zealand is in the middle of one of the largest wilding pine control programmes in the world. Wilding pines are conifers growing in the wrong places. Spreading from early forestry, shelterbelt…
- The Pukaki wilding fire (Access: NZFFA membership)
Nick Ledgard, November 2020
The main spreading tree species on the western shores of Lake Pukaki is the worst one, contorta pine, although there is quite a bit of Douglas-fir and larch. Other spreading conifers,…
- The Douglas-fir dilemma: Exploiting a reluctance to reproduce in the fight against wildings (Access: NZFFA membership)
Cathie Reeves, May 2020
Douglas-fir are notorious for their tendency to turn feral and spread themselves into places they are not wanted. Unfortunately, this ability to run wild limits where they can be planted,…
- The wind in the wildings (Access: NZFFA membership)
Nick Ledgard, Ian Harman and John Finnigan, February 2020
New Zealanders, particularly those in rural areas, are generally very aware of the climatic environment in which they live – mainly concerning temperature, rainfall and wind. They can confidently relate…
- Search and destroy: Managing the wilding pine problem (Access: NZFFA membership)
Michelle Harnett, November 2019
Wilding pines are unplanned and unwanted. Wildings from windblown seeds from early forestry, shelterbelt and farm plantings are invading neighbouring ecosystems. The area affected by wilding pines in New Zealand…
- What is wrong with wilding trees? (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, November 2017
Two years ago, the New Zealand wilding control management strategy was written. Its conclusion of ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ was sufficiently convincing that a business case for control…
- Clean and green – controlling weeds in planted forests (Access: unrestricted)
Carol Rolando, Brenda Baillie, Loretta Garrett and Michelle Harnett, August 2015
Herbicide use in planted forests is changing in response to consumer demand for wood and wood products from sustainably managed forests. Six years of research at Scion, focussing on minimising…
- What is wrong with wildings? (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, May 2011
What is wrong with wilding trees? This would be the most frequent question I am asked. The people looking for an answer are increasingly aware that many forests which have…
- Broom and gorse - are we as awake as we should be? (Access: unrestricted)
Nick Ledgard, May 2005
This article is a departure from the normal tree topics, but it involves a couple of woody plants with which most of us are equally familiar - namely broom Cytisus…
- Mt Barker wilding Corsican pines (Access: unrestricted)
John Purey-Cust, May 2008
Nick Ledgard and Gordon Baker’s wilding pine management joint venture on land owned by Canterbury University Wilding pines covering the hillside All from a shelter belt The wildings, predominantly Corsican…
- Weeds in indigenous forests (Access: unrestricted)
Melissa Brignall-Theyer, Sarah Richardson and Susan Wiser, May 2008
The most challenging weeds for managed indigenous forests are those that can disperse into harvested areas, prevent regeneration of native tree species or persist as potential competitors to adult native…
- What's wrong with wilding trees? Nick Ledgard's Blog, July 07, 2016
Having been a high country forester all my working life and spent much of the later years dealing with wildings, I have long pondered on the pro's and con's of…
- Land Information NZ develops wildling tool January 2019
A new tool to enable the public to help fight one of New Zealand’s most invasive species has been created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). Wilding Watch can be…
- Wilding conifer work plan announced July 2017
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry have announced the Government will control the spread of wilding conifers over an additional five priority areas this year in…
- Managing weeds in planted forests August 2015
In a new Scion video, Dr Carol Rolando talks about recent research looking at managing weeds in planted forests. Scion scientists, led by Dr Carol Rolando, have confirmed that most…
- Minimising the environmental impact of weed management in New Zealand’s planted forests August 2015
Field trials of herbicides in forest weed management were undertaken in this Sustainable Farming Fund programme. To retain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and other certification status, certified forests will need to…
- Giving forests a head start with good weed control November 2014
Effective weed control contributes significantly to the survival and growth of newly planted stands, and also promotes productivity throughout the life of the stand. November 2014 Scion’s Weed Management Team…
- Wilding conifer ID guide
A new field guide has been developed for identifying high country wilding conifers, and is available free for download
- New Zealand Wilding Conifer Management Group
A Group dedicated to support the active management of wilding conifer infestations in New Zealand
- Guidelines for the use of the Decision Support System “Calculating Wilding Spread Risk From New Plantings”
Assessing the risk of wilding spread is the first step for any afforestation proposal.
- Forest weed control manual
FRI Bulletin No. 180, Davenhill, N. A; Ray, J W; Vanner, A L (1997).
- Minimising the environmental impact of weed management in New Zealand’s planted forests
Carol Rolando and Michelle Harnett, June 2015, NZFRI ltd.
- Good Practice for Aerial Wanding (Basal Bark Application) of Wilding Conifers
30 May 2017, National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, Christchurch
- Cost benefit analysis of wilding conifer management in New Zealand - Part 1: Impacts under current management
Velarde, S., T. Paul, J. Monge and R. Yao (2015).
- Alternatives to the chemical control of weeds: Proceedings of an international conference, 25-27 July, 1989
FRI Bulletin No. 155, Bassett, C., L. J. Whitehouse and J. A. Zabkiewicz (1990).
- Species of Cortaderia (pampas grasses and toetoe) in New Zealand
FRI Bulletin No. 105, Knowles, B. and C. Ecroyd (1985).
Farm Forestry - Headlines
Article archive »
- Forest Owners say native trees are nice but won’t solve the Climate Emergency
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
The Forest Owners Association says the just released Emissions Reduction Plan is a welcome and unprecedented blueprint for reducing New Zealand’s gross emissions. But the Association is warning that a…
- ‘Smart spade’ one of new technologies for forest silviculture project
Thursday, May 05, 2022
A ‘smart spade’ which identifies exactly where to plant a tree seedling is just one of the new technologies in the seven-year $25.5 million Precision Silviculture development project. The newly…
- Forest Owners call for forest trade mission to India
Monday, April 11, 2022
Forest Owners call for forest trade mission to India following approval of new fumigant for log exports The Forest Owners Association wants a delegation of government ministers to urgently go to…
- Forest Owners and Federated Farmers mourn passing of former Chief Executive of both organisations
Sunday, April 03, 2022
The pastoral and forest industries are mourning the recent passing of Rob McLagan, who served as Chief Executive of both Federated Farmers and the Forest Owners Association. Rob was CE…
- Joint efforts under way after unwanted pest detected in Tauranga
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Biosecurity New Zealand is working with primary sector and Te Tiriti partners after a single confirmed egg mass belonging to the moth pest the fall armyworm was found in Tauranga.…
- Forest Biosecurity update March 2022
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Check out the latest Biosecurity newsletter which gives an update on the biosecurity surveillance system, pitch pine canker, red needle cast, tortoise beetles, a new ladybird (always good) and the…
- Forest Owners says IPCC doesn't back Anne Salmond
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
The Forest Owners Association says highly qualified reservations in the latest International Panel on Climate Change report, do not back anthropologist Anne Salmond’s claims that New Zealand should switch exclusively…
- Forest Owners puzzled at overseas investment reform
Thursday, February 24, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is asking why the government needs to reintroduce more process around overseas investment for conversions from pasture to plantation forests. The Associate Minister of Finance, David…
- Forest Owners tell government to look across the Tasman
Monday, February 21, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is telling the government that Australia’s support of plantation forestry is in sharp contrast to the increasingly restrictive measures being promised in New Zealand by our…
- The folly of the native forest carbon solution
Monday, February 21, 2022
The Farm Forestry Association says anthropologist Dame Anne Salmond’s recently publicised views, that planting native forests offer the best solution to the climate crisis, is misinformed and misleading. Association President Graham West says the overwhelming…
- Forestry Minister has strategic leadership opportunity in farm forestry
Friday, February 04, 2022
The Farm Forestry Association says Forestry Minister, Stuart Nash, should incentivise farmers to plant more trees to combat climate change. Association President Graham West asks, “Why isn’t the government working…
- Forest Owners challenge Federated Farmers to prove misleading carbon farming claims
Tuesday, February 01, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is telling Federated Farmers that it needs to educate itself about how the Overseas Investment Act works before making any more false claims about non-existent overseas…
- Further tax changes possible
Monday, January 17, 2022
Changes are possible to the ‘cost of standing timber’ provisions of the Income Tax Act. Farm Forestry members have been working to help willing owners aggregate their forests for economies…
- Forest Owners say Fish and Game barking up the wrong tree
Thursday, December 09, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says Fish and Game’s criticism of exotic plantation forests doesn’t accord with reality. “Fish and Game is, quite simply, barking up the wrong tree when it…
- Changing causes and impacts of unwanted fires in our forest and rural landscapes
Friday, December 03, 2021
Commercial forests and climate change are regularly cited as contributors to an increase in unwanted rural fires in New Zealand. However, evidence suggests other factors are exacerbating the causes and…
- Consultation opens for registration of forestry advisers and log traders
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Key players in the forestry industry are encouraged to have their say on the design of a new registration system for log traders and forestry advisors with consultation opening today.…
- Forest Owners says lessons for New Zealand in UN Wood-Based Products Report
Friday, November 19, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has laid down a blueprint for the New Zealand forest and wood industry, with the release of ‘Forest Products…
- New Zealand Forest Owners sign on to International Wood Manifesto leading into COP26
Thursday, October 28, 2021
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association has joined 17 other forest and timber organisations around the world in launching the International Wood Manifesto in London, to lead into the crucial…
- Forest Owners say ‘back the bat’
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
The Forest Owners Association is urging its members and the public to vote for the pekapeka – the Long-Tailed Bat - in the Forest and Bird sponsored Bird of the…
- Forest Owners says extra planting ‘just as well’ given slippage on carbon reduction targets
Friday, October 15, 2021
The Forest Owners Association is saying that foresters’ intentions to plant more trees is an immediate and practical insurance against New Zealand not achieving greenhouse gas reduction goals. The Association…