Forest restoration at the Cass Mountain Research Area, Canterbury, New Zealand

Authors: David Evison and Sarah V Wyse
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2023, Issue N.Z.J.For. 68(3) 2023 , pp Pages 8 - 15, Nov 2023
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: The School of Forestry has initiated a long-term forest restoration project at the Cass Mountain Research Area (CMRA), an area of 1,775 ha in the upper Waimakariri basin owned and administered by the University of Canterbury (UC). In August 2022, 656 mountain beech seedlings were planted on a part of Remus Hill (an area of approximately 70 ha within the CMRA) by members of the student Forestry Society (FORSOC), assisted by UC staff and others. To support this planting programme, small seedlings had been previously gathered from a local site on UC land, then grown on for two years in a local nursery. Subsequently, the area was flown by a drone to produce a high-resolution digital elevation model of the planted area. The trees were measured and geo-located by fourth-year undergraduate students three weeks following planting, and measurements were made of the associated cover (species, proximity and height of cover species). Survival assessment and other measurements were made by second-year undergraduate students approximately six months following planting, at which stage 75% of the seedlings were surviving. Traps to study the invertebrate ecology and populations in the area have also been established by School of Forestry postgraduate students. The School of Forestry plans to hold a forest restoration field trip at Cass each year, to carry out planting, weed control and other activities consistent with the objective of restoring the previous forest cover on Remus Hill. Because the focus is forest establishment, activities that are necessary to ensure the survival of trees already planted may take precedence over additional planting. Further field visits, including measurement and analysis, will be incorporated into School of Forestry teaching in forest ecology and restoration. Long-term research projects will be developed, as well as opportunities for Honours and postgraduate research.

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