Erosion and woody debris in New Zealand’s steepland forests – to what extent is it manageable?

Authors: Chris Phillips, Les Basher
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2025, Issue N.Z.J.For. 70(3) 2025, pp Pages 12 - 18, Nov 2025
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: In recent years, severe landslide-triggering storms have affected New Zealand’s erodible steepland forests, and plantation forestry is often blamed for the downstream impacts of these storms. At the last two annual conferences of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, the authors presented some perspectives on the issue of erosion and woody debris in our steepland plantation forests. In this conference paper, we discuss the issue, its causes, and the limitations of forest management in addressing it. We suggest that there is no simple solution. We recommend that understanding landscape thresholds and weather event characteristics – and communicating this widely – is as important as the need to change forest practices.

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