The Regeneration Lifecycle
Learn more about how NZ Carbon Farming’s forests are managed to act as nurseries for regenerating Permanent Indigenous Forest over time.
Preserving our Planet for Future Generations
Site design and Planting
A permanent regenerating native forest sustains itself over the long term with a collection of species. Deciding the best route to a permanent regenerating native forest begins with assessing the site itself, the local climate and whether native regeneration is likely to happen naturally or will require an active management plan alongside the initial planting plan.
Pinus radiata is often the first species planted due to its excellent growth in New Zealand conditions. Using pinus radiata allows the site to quickly transition from grassland to a forest with good canopy coverage. This reduces weeds and is the first step in transitioning the land to a permanent forest – we often describe this as the ‘nursery crop’ phase of the forest lifecycle.
Site design and Planting
A permanent regenerating native forest sustains itself over the long term with a collection of species. Deciding the best route to a permanent regenerating native forest begins with assessing the site itself, the local climate and whether native regeneration is likely to happen naturally or will require an active management plan alongside the initial planting plan.
Pinus radiata is often the first species planted due to its excellent growth in New Zealand conditions. Using pinus radiata allows the site to quickly transition from grassland to a forest with good canopy coverage. This reduces weeds and is the first step in transitioning the land to a permanent forest – we often describe this as the ‘nursery crop’ phase of the forest lifecycle.
Canopy Establishment
Over the next 5-10 years, the fast growing nursery crop of pinus radiata has become well established and the forest canopy is closing reducing light penetration and reducing the ground cover of grasses and weeds.
Canopy Establishment
Over the next 5-10 years, the fast growing nursery crop of pinus radiata has become well established and the forest canopy is closing reducing light penetration and reducing the ground cover of grasses and weeds.
Native seedlings start
The shady forest floor environment creates micro-climate conditions ripe for native shade-tolerant species to establish themselves.
NZ Carbon Farming are leaders in the practice of regeneration; over the last three years we have synthesised the best independent scientific expertise on the topic available. This allows us to identify the unique circumstances influencing regeneration and tailoring our management approach accordingly.
Native seedlings start
The shady forest floor environment creates micro-climate conditions ripe for native shade-tolerant species to establish themselves.
NZ Carbon Farming are leaders in the practice of regeneration; over the last three years we have synthesised the best independent scientific expertise on the topic available. This allows us to identify the unique circumstances influencing regeneration and tailoring our management approach accordingly.
Light Wells
Some 12-15 years after planting the nursery crop, the active management of promoting indigenous growth begins in earnest. There are many ways to promote the growth of native species and our approach takes account of naturally occurring local seed sources and how the forest itself has developed. Removing trees to create gaps in the canopy – manually creating ‘light wells’ are one the most common techniques for speeding up a natural process of creating conditions for light-loving trees to establish themselves. Another common active management technique might be to under-plant native seedlings to bolster natural seed sources. NZ Carbon Farming adapts our understanding of the science and field expertise to each stand.
Light Wells
Some 12-15 years after planting the nursery crop, the active management of promoting indigenous growth begins in earnest. There are many ways to promote the growth of native species and our approach takes account of naturally occurring local seed sources and how the forest itself has developed. Removing trees to create gaps in the canopy – manually creating ‘light wells’ are one the most common techniques for speeding up a natural process of creating conditions for light-loving trees to establish themselves. Another common active management technique might be to under-plant native seedlings to bolster natural seed sources. NZ Carbon Farming adapts our understanding of the science and field expertise to each stand.
Natives grow into the gaps
Light wells, mixtures of shade and light loving species and continued seed supply see the native species growing through the canopy. The process of replacing the nursery crop’s canopy cover with native podocarps is well underway.
NZ Carbon Farming continues to engineer the transition from an exotic nursery to a regenerating native forest.
Natives grow into the gaps
Light wells, mixtures of shade and light loving species and continued seed supply see the native species growing through the canopy. The process of replacing the nursery crop’s canopy cover with native podocarps is well underway.
NZ Carbon Farming continues to engineer the transition from an exotic nursery to a regenerating native forest.
Self-sustaining native forest
Over time, the pinus radiata nursery crop will be completely replaced with a permanent indigenous forest sustaining itself, acting as a seed source for other stands and providing a habitat for New Zealand’s flora and fauna for centuries into the future.
Self-sustaining native forest
Over time, the pinus radiata nursery crop will be completely replaced with a permanent indigenous forest sustaining itself, acting as a seed source for other stands and providing a habitat for New Zealand’s flora and fauna for centuries into the future.
Plantation at 10 years
Plantation at 23 years – approximately half of the canopy cover is due to native species growing through
Plantation at 50 years showing predominantly native species providing canopy cover
