Effects of rural land use (especially forestry) and riparian management on the stream habitat

Authors: J. Quinn
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2004, Issue N.Z.J.For. 49(4) 2005, pp 16-19, Jan 2005
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: Mature plantation forests provide broadly similar stream habitat conditions to native forest and streams in these land uses typically have quite similar invertebrate and fish faunas. However, logging and replanting create regular disturbances to streams in plantations that can impact adversely on aquatic habitat and biota. Streamside riparian areas occupy the interface between the land and water and recent New Zealand studies have shown that maintaining forest vegetation in the riparian area during logging, together with sound land management practices elsewhere in the catchment, can protect streams from much of the disturbance that otherwise occurs during and after logging.

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