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Scaling up native (indigenous) planting

Three projects are helping improve our understanding of:

  • seed production and quality
  • nursery hygiene
  • silviculture (the health and growth of new plantings).

Accelerating native tree production

This project aims to make it easier, faster and cheaper to plant high quality native trees. Researchers are identifying ways to:

  • improve propagation techniques and technologies
  • grow large numbers of native seedlings for the forestry industry.

Researcher: Scion
Duration: 2 years, due 30 June 2021
Outputs: Best practice guidelines, presentations, workshops, fact sheets and technical reports

Germination of native species seed after cold treatment, surface sterilisation and soaking in 1% hydrogen peroxide – Technical report [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Field testing of forestry and alternative container types for native tree species: An analysis of seedling performance across 6 sites - Technical report [PDF, 1.7 MB]

Acceleration of Primary production in Native Trees – Technical report [PDF, 2.8 MB]

Herbicides to control weeds

Herbicides are used before and after planting to manage weeds. This project assesses different herbicides and weed control practices when establishing native trees on marginal and hill country land. This will be done with the Department of Conservation and Landcorp Farming.

Researcher: Scion
Duration: 3 years, due 30 September 2022
Outputs: Fact sheets and technical reports

Towards tree establishment success: Screening herbicides for indigenous tree species tolerance at rates required for effective weed control [PDF, 2.4 MB]

Evaluation of mānuka tolerance to several post-plant herbicide treatments in a field setting [PDF, 2.4 MB]

A literature review of the current knowledge on phytotoxicity of herbicides to indigenous tree species of New Zealand [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Drones dispersing native seed pods

Researchers are using drones to disperse seed pods to encourage native forest regeneration. This could be a cost-effective way to plant large areas, particularly on land that is steep or difficult to access. The seed pods include various mixtures of native seeds and composts. They are dropped across a range of environments including:

  • pasture
  • wetlands
  • exotic scrub.

The project includes seed pod manufacturing and germination trials. It will include large-scale field trials.

Researcher: Envico Technologies
Duration: 4 years, due 30 June 2024
Outputs: Fact sheet, technical report on seed pod composition for growth in different environments

Using nurse crops

Nurse crops are plants and trees used to help tree seedlings establish and grow. They are established before seedlings are planted underneath them. They can provide shelter, reduce the chances of weed infestation, and help control the form of the seedling.

This project investigated the success of seven historical planting trials (10-31 years old). It remeasured native (indigenous) and mixed forest trials established in the 1980s, to see how nurse crops affected the establishment and development of the trees. The goal was to develop planting and site management guidelines to support the transition of sites from exotic to native species.

Researcher: Scion
Duration: 1 year
Outputs: Fact sheet and technical report

Fact sheet: Using nurse crops - Canopy website

Establishing native and exotic tree crops in indigenous landscapes - technical report [PDF, 11 MB]

Tools to support decision-making

We need to change the way we use our land. This does not mean large-scale conversions to forestry. It means changing non-productive and less productive farmland to forests, and better mixing of trees into the landscape. It requires planting a wider range of native and exotic species.

Closing the knowledge gap

Tane's Tree Trust encourages using native trees for:

  • biodiversity
  • landscape enhancement
  • cultural benefits
  • sustainable production of high-quality timber and other resources.

Low-cost proof-of-concept demonstration areas will be established in at least 6 regions. They'll showcase best-practice, large-scale planting and regeneration of permanent native forests.

Researcher: Tane’s Tree Trust
Duration: 3 years, due 30 June 2022
Outputs: Fact sheet, technical report, native tree planting plan templates

Right Tree Right Place – Hawke’s Bay

This project aimed to:

  • define priority erosion areas for afforestation
  • propose afforestation options where species and regimes are matched to specific sites, and understand their merits and drawbacks
  • outline relevant considerations including non-market benefits like erosion and sediment reduction, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration
  • develop spatial ranges (maps) for relevant forestry options.
  • develop an understanding of landowners’ views on afforestation, including success factors and barriers to ensure individual landowner and community expectations are met
  • outline existing and future wood supply issues and wood processing options.

Researcher: Hawkes Bay Regional Investment Company, Scion, and Marlborough Research Centre
Duration: Complete at 31 December 2019
Outputs: Technical report, summary report, portable sawmills report, processing and non-radiata species opportunities report

Disclaimer: This work was completed in 2019. Since then, devastating weather events have affected the North Island in 2023. The government is doing more work on species for erodible land in this region, so this material may no longer be accurate or up to date.

Fact sheets on the Canopy website

Technical reports

Right Tree Right Place – Tararua

This project created a decision support tool for landowners to help them incorporate alternative species into their farm systems. The tool draws on national data and adapts this for the local context. The work will enable Tararua District Council to strategically plan for the future of forestry in their district.

Researcher: Tararua District Council, Scion
Duration: Complete at 31 May 2022
Outputs: Technical report

Potential afforestation options for the Tararua landscape – Scion, October 2020 [PDF, 8.5 MB]

Understanding social barriers

We need to understand why people are not planting trees.

Maintaining social licence and overcoming barriers to planting trees

This project is looking at barriers people face when they want to plant trees.

Researchers will:

  • work out what the public think about the planting of more trees
  • work out what changes people's ability to plant more trees
  • write guidelines on how to build public support
  • identify barriers to small-scale planting of trees on farms and other small landholdings (including Māori land)
  • recommend policies and incentives to overcome barriers to planting.

This project includes a literature review, a survey of farmers and landowners, and interviews and focus groups with farmers and landowners.

Researcher: Manaaki Whenua – Landcare New Zealand and AgResearch
Duration: 2 years, due 31 January 2022
Outputs: Fact sheet, technical report, monitoring and evaluation framework, policy options to overcome barriers to planting

Technical reports

Diversifying forests beyond radiata pine

We know a lot about radiata pine forests, but very little about planted native species. These projects will help fill this gap by restarting trials to find the best planting programmes for native and mixed species forests.

Evaluating successes and failures

Scion will restart trials from the 1980s in Auckland, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, East Cape and Wairarapa. Researchers will look at survival and productivity of native species after decades of growth. This can be linked back to how the trials were established, which will tell us how to successfully plant native forests.

Researcher: Scion
Duration: Complete at 30 June 2020
Outputs: Fact sheets, survival and growth technical report, guidelines for establishing new plantings of native species

Living laboratories and nature-based solutions

Researchers are establishing long-term trials to find the best planting programmes for restoring native habitat and plant species throughout New Zealand.

This will help us learn about the unique characteristics of native tree species. It also aims to:

  • work out why the public may be against planting and harvesting native forests
  • write guidelines for working with landowners, especially Māori landowners.

Four nature-based solution field trials are being established and monitored. These use nature to solve problems we create, such as planting trees to reduce erosion or farm run-off.

Researchers are working with other One Billion Trees projects.

Researcher: Auckland University of Technology
Duration: 3 years, due 31 March 2020
Outputs: Fact sheet, technical report, guidelines for establishing nature-based solution sites

New Zealand Dryland Forests Initiatives (NZDFI) - durable hardwood industry

This research project looks at improving the supply of elite durable eucalypt species (E. bosistoana and E. globodeia). The long-term aim of the NZDFI is to create a sustainable value chain of durable hardwood products across several regions in New Zealand.

Researcher: Marlborough Research Centre
Duration: 2 year
Outputs: Technical report

New Zealand Dryland Forests Initiative trial establishment in 2021 - Technical report [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Recovery from the impacts of COVID-19

Managing nursery stocks

Extending the planting season for exotic forestry species

This project explores ways of extending the planting season, including:

  • nursery techniques
  • choosing the best planting site, and
  • site performance management and enhancement.

The focus is on exotic tree species.

Researcher: Scion
Duration: 1 year, due 10 October 2021
Outputs: Best practice guidelines, fact sheets, and technical reports

Fact sheet: Extending the planting season of exotic plantation species - Canopy

Technical reports on extending the planting season

Managing planting delays

Fact sheets and general information about how to deal with planting delays are available on the Canopy website:

Dealing with planting delays – Canopy

Managing delays in planting native trees

In partnership with the industry, to develop guidance on ways to extend the native planting season.

Researcher: Tane’s Tree Trust
Duration: 1 year, due July 2021
Outputs: Fact sheets and summary reports

Fact sheet: Managing delays in production and planting of native seedlings due to COVID-19 lockdowns – Canopy

Managing delays in production and planting of native seedlings due to COVID-19 lockdowns – Technical report [PDF, 2.4 MB]

Improving tree growth and resilience for accelerated reforestation

To understand the most important factors that could improve tree establishment in extended planting seasons, including:

  • seed and seedling treatments
  • plant enhancements
  • site-specific environmental factors.

Researcher: Auckland University of Technology
Duration: 18 months, due July 2022
Outputs: Fact sheets and technical reports

Guidance to extend native seedling planting season

Develop guidance on methods to extend the native plant establishment season in tough or drought conditions.

Researcher: Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
Duration: 1 year, due October 2021
Outputs: Fact sheets, planting guides, and technical reports

Fact sheet: Improving resilience of planted native woody seedlings to drought – Canopy

Improving resilience of native New Zealand woody seedlings to drought – Technical report, May 2022 [PDF, 16 MB]

Managing site maintenance

Feasibility of using nutrient-rich wastes in forestry

To assess the feasibility of using nutrient-rich wastes in plant nurseries and at planting sites to enhance seedling growth and establishment, as a means of extending the planting season.

Researcher: Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
Duration: 6 months, due May 2021
Outputs: Fact sheets and technical reports

Fact sheet: Using nutrient-rich wastes in plant nurseries, forestry and native plantings – Canopy

Feasibility of using nutrient rich wastes in nurseries and for managing sites with exotic and native plantings – Technical report, May 2022 [PDF, 1.6 MB]

Who to contact

If you have questions about the One Billion Trees programme, email onebilliontreesprogramme@mpi.govt.nz

Find out more

Read more about planting trees – Canopy website

Science priorities to support the One Billion Trees Programme

Forest science and research

MPI business units