Contributing factors to the wilding conifer problem

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2 Contributing factors to the wilding conifer problem Legacy source plantings dating from early 1900s Private and crown land multiple land owners Lack of clear roles and responsibilities Lack of a coordinated effort Problem is often unrecognised until trees have cones and are creating further spread with increased costs of control

3 Strategy Vision The right tree in the right place

4 Strategy Goal Prevent the spread of wilding conifers and contain or eradicate established stands by 2030

5 What the strategy covers Prevent continuing spread Eradicate or contain priority sites Funding framework to address legacy plantings Improving and aligning policy (e.g. RMA, BSA) Awareness raising and behaviour change Roles for Central government, Local government, land occupiers, and communities Research and practice improvement

6 The strategy will be available on Contact MPI by

7 ntorta, Kaweka Forest Park

8 Setting the scene How BIG an issue are wilding conifers? Why are they a problem? What is being done to solve the problem? What could be done from here?

9 Setting the scene How BIG an issue are wilding conifers? Why are they a problem? What is being done to solve the problem? What could be done from here?

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11 Vitousek et al 1996 Amer. Sci. 84:468

12 MEA 2005 Global changes Biodiversity Ecosystem function Ecosystem services Cultural Recreational Spiritual / aesthetic Provisioning Food, fiber, Genetic resources Regulating Climate Water purification Supporting Primary production Nutrient cycling

13 Pressures

14 GHG Pressures Climate change Grazing Indigenous forest regeneration Invasions Erosion Irrigation Fertilisation Forestry

15 Hooper et al Nature 486: 105

16 Hooper et al Nature 486: 105

17 Langdon et al Biol. Invasions 12:3961; Gundale et al Biological Invasions in press

18 Native range Introduced range

19 The horse has bolted

20 Extent of wilding conifers in NZ (Refs: Smith 1903, Cheeseman 1925, Beauchamp 1962, Wardrop 1964, Hunter & Douglas 1984, Ledgard 1988, Harding 1990, Ledgard 2001, North etal 2007, Paul & Ledgard 2011)

21 Ha Ha Wilding extent DOC (Briden & Howell 2012) 1.25e+06 Wilding extent - DOC Rank 8 Eqn 34 lny=a+blnx r^2= DF Adj r^2= FitStdErr= Fstat= a= e+06 1e+06 1e e e+05 5e+05 5e e e Year

22 Ha Ha Wilding extent LCR (Peltzer & Burrows 2012) 1,200,000 1,000, , , , , e+06 Extent of wilding conifers Rank 12 Eqn 34 lny=a+blnx r^2= DF Adj r^2= FitStdErr= Fstat= a= b= e+06 1e+06 1e e e+05 5e+05 5e e e Year

23 Ha Ha Wilding extent SCION (Paul 2013) NZ(TP2) Rank 8 Eqn 34 lny=a+blnx r^2= DF Adj r^2= FitStdErr= Fstat= a= b= e+05 4e e+05 3e e e+05 3e e+05 2e+05 2e e+05 1e e+05 1e Year

24 % Annual Increase 10 Change in national wilding conifer extent over ~100 years (%/annum) DOC LCR SCION

25 Hectares Conifers have continued to expand their distribution (e.g., Waiau and Clarence catchments) Opihi/Opuha/Or ari Ashburton Rangitata Rakaia Waimakariri Hurunui Waiau (Hanmer) (Environment Canterbury 2012)

26 % NZ 10 x 10 km grid Which species are most widespread? P. menziesii P. contorta P. nigra P. mugo (DOC Weeds database - Clayson Howell)

27 From: National Exotic Forest Description (NEFD) Report, 1 April

28 From: National Exotic Forest Description (NEFD) Report, 1 April

29 Douglas fir spread from a 15 year-old plantation Inland Canterbury, Rakaia catchment

30 The potential range of Douglas Fir is high (NIWA)

31 Why does detection of invaders (or any rare events) matter?

32 Why does detection of invaders (or any rare events) matter? Thresholds of detection

33 Setting the scene How BIG an issue are wilding conifers? Why are they a problem? What is being done to solve the problem? What could be done from here?

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35 Ribbonwood Stn, Mackenzie Country

36 Ribbonwood Stn, Mackenzie Country Neighbouring Ben Dhu Reserve

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40 Dickie et al J. Applied Ecol. 48: 926 Torlesse Range

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43 Dickie et al AoB Native

44 Pines Native

45 Native Pines Exotic grassland Dickie et al AOB special issue

46 The final frontier?

47 Invasive lupines and pines, Kaweka Forest Park

48 How have conifers become so invasive?

49 Patchy mycorrhizal inoculum in Tanzanian pine nursery Mikola 1969

50 Photo courtesy of Ian Dickie

51 Conifer seedling Roots and mycorrhizal fungil inoculum? Photo courtesy of Ian Dickie

52 Native Nothofagus forest G. Roberts

53 Native Non-native Chamonixia Cortinarius Rhizopogon Suillus Octaviania Lactarius

54 Novel associations Cosmopolitan associations Co-invasion Vertical scale = proportion of total occurrences Dickie et al New Phytologist

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57 How do fungi spread?

58 Wood, Dickie & Wilmshurst, Unpublished

59 Wood et al J. Ecol. doi: /

60 Possums and deer disperse co-invading mycorrhizal fungi.

61 Jollies Pass, Hanmer Springs

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63 Dymond et al J. Env. Mngt. 95:124

64 Setting the scene How BIG an issue are wilding conifers? Why are they a problem? What is being done to solve the problem? What could be done from here?

65 Invasive pines, and dwarves. Twizel NZ Screen shot from The Hobbit

66 Are wilding conifers under control? Inland Canterbury, Rakaia catchment

67 Invasive conifers >$6 million per year >Spraying, cutting Pinus contorta invasion, Craigieburn

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69 Control operations, Craigieburn Forest Park

70 Glenfellen Stn, Slate Range, Nth Southland: Removal of Douglas fir plantation, 190ha, DOC Cost ~$200,000

71 AGS Cost ~$260,000 DOC - Lammerlaws Te Papanui Conservation Park D.fir D.fir SR

72 Ongoing Costs of $? To whom?

73 Extent of wilding conifers in NZ (Refs: Smith 1903, Cheeseman 1925, Beauchamp 1962, Wardrop 1964, Hunter & Douglas 1984, Ledgard 1988, Harding 1990, Ledgard 2001, North etal 2007, Paul & Ledgard 2011)

74 Setting the scene How BIG an issue are wilding conifers? Why are they a problem? What is being done to solve the problem? What could be done from here?

75 Craigieburn Forest Park

76 Craigieburn Forest Park Large-scale adaptive management is ongoing Align research efforts

77 Eradicate? Contain? Leave and triage?

78 Many threatened ecosystems are vulnerable to wildings Gumlands Sand Dunes Inland Outwash Gravels Strongly Leached Terraces (Hurst etal - in Prep)

79 Global changes Biodiversity Ecosystem function Ecosystem services Cultural Recreational Spiritual / aesthetic Provisioning Food, fiber, Genetic resources Regulating Climate Water purification Supporting Primary production Nutrient cycling

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81 New Zealand s Biological Heritage A National Science Challenge Major shift in collaborations and funding In 2013, the New Zealand government announced ten Science Challenges designed to allow more strategic science investment with the aim of delivering major and enduring benefit for New Zealand. Emphasis on novel ecosystems and biosecurity Plant & Food Research and Landcare Research are leading the development of a proposal for one of these Challenges New Zealand s Biological Heritage. The research undertaken in this

82 Longer-term solutions also need to be developed Novel ecosystems/restoration?

83 Longer-term solutions also need to be developed Novel ecosystems/restoration? Biological control?

84 Ecosystems & Biodiversity Ecosystem Properties/ Biodiversity Ecosystem functions Services Services Human wellbeing Benefits/ values Institutions/ decisions Modified from Haines-Young and Potschin 2009; Lamarque et al. 2012

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88 Setting the scene How BIG an issue are wilding conifers? Why are they a problem? What is being done to solve the problem? What could be done from here?

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