Restoration research (Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project: 2014-2016)
Abstract
After the first phase of restoration activities in the PCRP (2008-
2013), an ongoing partnership agreement was arranged between
Rio Tinto, Department of Conservation (DOC), Conservation
Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ) and Lincoln University, to cover
the period 2014-2016. The partnering vision was updated to reflect
and build on the progress made during the initial PCRP term:
“The Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project (PCRP) aims to restore
the sand plain forest on the Te Ara Taiko Nature Reserve, land
previously used for grazing and mining on the Northern Barrytown
flats, that spans the mountains to sea. This will protect and
enhance the unique ecological values of the Punakaiki area, which
include the only nesting ground of the Westland Black Petrel,
natural habitat of the Blue Penguin and the remnant sand plain
forests bearing Nikau Palms and Rata trees many hundreds of
years old.”
(Agreement to extend the Westland Petrel partnering agreement
(Simpson Grierson, 19/12/13)
Key partnership objectives were identified, which included the
shared objective to ensure a sustainable future for the Te Ara
Taiko nature reserve and adjacent conservation lands, which
reflected the partners shared commitment to a collaborative
approach to ecological restoration, and a belief in the value of
research, innovation, education and community engagement.
A continuation of the assisted restoration process towards a
functioning sand-plain [or wetland] ecosystem involved the
planting of over 150,000 eco-sourced trees, shrubs and flaxes
has in effect, established the foundations of this change. Further
work over the last three years (2014-2016) has built on this by
enhancing diversity and protecting the first five years’ investment.
These objectives were to protect and enhance the existing
restored areas, so further developing the knowledge base on
the site in order to improve and increase the collective science of
nature conservation and restoration in NZ and globally, as well
as providing interpretive and educational resources to foster
knowledge [and engagement] in and around species protection
and restoration. More specifically, the new partnership agreement
aimed to develop “internal” and alternate funding towards project
self-sufficiency. The PCRP is planned to become an integral part of
the Punakaiki visitor experience through the development of high
quality visitor experiences, and provide a world class model of a
collaborative approach to nature conservation.
The restoration work over the three-year period included specific
tasks to enhance the existing plantings through under-planting
to increase species diversity and to enhance connectivity of
remnants; contain the spread of gorse and blackberry, and to
develop the nursery capacity to a point of project self-sufficiency.
A project implementation plan has been prepared, aiming to
demonstrate conservation leadership through partnerships.
Conservation at the PCRP should develop economic and
business opportunities, and demonstrate enduring value
for New Zealand citizens. Research and monitoring will
be carried out around biodiversity and offsets to build up
global knowledge about sustainability. Research findings
during the three-year period provide a “living lab” for the
development of research skills, to increase opportunities to
educate citizens about biodiversity and species protection.
Future plans for the PCRP aim to create a positive
experience for volunteers, visitors and stakeholders
in order to increase numbers of people involved in
conservation by providing hands-on experience for
development of restoration-based skills. In turn, this will
provide an evidence base for expert volunteer recruitment
and management, and develop a flagship partnership
showing innovation and expertise.
This report, which documents research and monitoring
activity and findings from 2014-2016, provides an update to
Hahner and Bowie (2013).... [Show full abstract]
Fields of Research
0502 Environmental Science and Management; 050206 Environmental Monitoring; 050202 Conservation and BiodiversityDate
2018Type
Report (Commissioned Report)Collections
Copyright © The Authors.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Development and testing indicators of restoration success: Punakaiki coastal restoration project
Hahner, J.; Bowie, M.; Dickinson, Nicholas; Smith, Carol; Boyer, Stephane; Chassagneux, A.; Segrestin, J.; Carter-Brown, Ross; Zhong, Hongtao; Mountier, Cathy (Lincoln University. Department of EcologyLincoln, Canterbury, 2013-05)The Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project (PCRP) was established to restore sand plain forest to a landscape that had been previously mined and farmed. Over 100,000 trees have been planted to date. The site is adjacent to ... -
The postcolonial possibility of restoration
Ward, Sean M. (Lincoln University, 2001)The recognition of environmental damage is widespread. Countries that were colonised in the rush of the nineteenth century have fared badly under colonial supplanting of ecosystems. The role of the spatialisation in these ... -
Restoration ecology in Canterbury: developing an integrated management approach
Johnson, Simon (Lincoln University, 1996)This report aims to address problems associated with the conventional site specific approach used to manage ecological restoration in Canterbury. As recent Agenda 21 initiatives demonstrate, management of restoration ...