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Sustainable land use initiative by Horizons
Authors: Andrew Manderson, Alec Mackay, James Lambie, Jon RoygardPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2012, Issue N.Z.J.For. 57(4) 2013, pp 4-8, Jan 2013
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Horizons Regional Council is the trading name of the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council. The Horizons region covers the Manawatu, Rangitikei and Whanganui catchments, as well as the catchments between these west coast river systems, and the Akitio and Owahanga catchments of the east coast. The risk of hill country erosion is an inherent feature of the region’s landscape due to the relatively young soft-rock geology and the magnitude and frequency of storms. The area has extensive hill and steep land, approximately 1.3 million hectares or 58 per cent of the region. Roughly 661,300 hectares are estimated as having the potential for severe erosion or moderate erosion where erosion debris will enter directly into waterways (Page et al 2005). The risk of erosion leading to soil loss and stream sedimentation is exacerbated by the historical conversion of large tracts of indigenous forest to shallow rooted pasture. It is estimated that between 272,500 and 273,500 hectares of highly erodible land lacks woody vegetation and is unprotected from severe erosive events (Page et al 2005; Dymond and Shepherd, 2006).