Winepress - June 2024

Joined-up thinking

A landscape-scale project aims to create ecological corridors along the Wairau Plain

PENNY WARDLE

A GAME-changing approach to restoring native biodiversity is on the cards for Wairau River flats in Marlborough. Wendy Sullivan, NZ Landcare Trust co-ordinator, has watched many people plant native seedlings on their land. This could be a lonely task, she noticed, and plantings often ended at property boundaries. It would be better if people worked together towards landscape-scale restoration, Wendy realised. Every riparian margin, hedgerow and unproductive corner could be joined to become arteries for biodiversity, linking landscapes.

“Someone might plant half a hectare which, while important, has reduced significance if isolated,” says Wendy. “But if neighbours get planting, there could be connected ecological corridors for plants, insects, lizards and birds between the river and conservation estate at the head of the valley. “Follow-up work would be essential because planted corridors can support predators and weeds as much as native wildlife.”

A good example is a catchment group in the Avon Valley where planting riparian margins was connecting five farms, one with a vineyard. Trapping and weed control had also started. Communities would be strengthened by connections between like-minded people, pooling of skills, creation of attractive landscapes and carbon absorption, says Wendy. At Climate Action Marlborough’s May 2023 Bootcamp, she tested the idea of an Ecological Corridor Project. The audience’s positive response led to a scoping workshop in October last year, attended by about 50 people.

“I felt I was given the go-ahead to take the idea to a whole new level involving not only landowners”.

For six months, a working group of 12 volunteers has been working on nuts-and-bolts visions and goals. Feedback was loud and clear that the first priority is to map what is currently in the project area, from native plantings to ecological deserts. This required researching restoration projects, including several supported by the Marlborough District Council. Tui to Town promoted protecting and planting of stepping stones of habitat for native birds, from

2008 to 2020. Council’s Working for Nature/Mahi mō te Taiao grants continue to support natural habitat restoration and protection.

Wendy says the Wairau catchment has been prioritised for ecological corridors because it has lost the most biodiversity. Eco-index, a web-mapping and planning tool, reveals that on the Wairau Plain only 5% of pre-human ecosystem cover remains. Upstream of the Waihopai River confluence, 5-10% remains and restoration was also needed. “The game changes if we can meet 15% vegetation coverage,” says Wendy.

Wine Marlborough deputy chair Tracy Johnston is on the Ecological Corridors Project working group. “I have a wetland development project on my own vineyard and know how hard it is to have all the knowledge, momentum and energy required. But when you get together with likeminded people it’s easier to focus on creating habitats and boosting biodiversity,” Tracy says.

Contact wendy.sullivan@landcare.org.nz for updates on the Wairau Catchment Ecological Corridor Project, to suggest restoration opportunities or to offer help

Tracy Johnston is matching 4ha of grapes with 4ha of restored wetland on their Wairau Valley property