Regeneration of Podocarps in a central North Island forest.

Authors: A. E. Beveridge
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 1973, Issue N.Z.J.For. 18(1) 1973, pp 23-35, May 1973
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: The conditions under which podocarps regenerate are described with particular reference to Pureora Forest in the West Taupo region. Effective podocarp regeneration is scarce in the dense podocarp forests; it occurs more frequently, however, beneath a gradually opening hardwood canopy such as that provided by large dying individual trees within scattered podocarp/tawa forest, or by older stands of Leptospermum and Weinmannia in fire-induced scrub. Examples are given of cyclic regeneration in older forest types and of the initiation of dense podocarp forest in recent times in fire-induced secondary forest. Tree ferns and vigorous growth of the larger-leaved mesophytic shrub-hardwoods prevent the recruitment of podocarps. Good seedling and sapling regeneration of podocarps has been found in limited areas of old cutover forest but it will not develop into a future crop without silvicultural treatment to reduce competition from hardwoods.
Limited regeneration of podocarps has been obtained within ten years of controlled selective logging of virgin forest, but much of this becomes suppressed if not released by tending. Silvicultural treatment to establish natural or artificial regeneration of podocarps cannot be justified on purely economic grounds. Even where an adequate stocking of rimu regeneration is obtained, merchantable trees will not be available for at least 150 years.

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