South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust

SUNDAY 19TH JULY - VOLUNTEER DAY - BRANCH LEATHAM

Huge thank you from us all here at SMLRT for your great efforts on Sunday.

We managed to eliminate 3445 pines 🌲which is a a fantastic effort. It is really rewarding to see the clearing at the top of the ‘parapont’ k**b now. I think the difference is really evident when we go back over the area, knowing our continued efforts in that location will keep the seedlings clear until the cones stop seeding. I’m sure the ridge team made great headway as well. Looking forward to receiving your tracks James.

I hope you all got up to the top of the k**b to look at the vegetation there - to see what it will look like in the future, with the natural vegetation coming back to life. It was noticed from this trip - how vital the follow up is, to pluck out the easy tiny seedlings - and also how the work is opening up little pockets for new endemic/natives to return. 🌼

Thanks again to Blenheim Toyota for their support getting people into the working area and for the extra day for the vehicle 😉, to the Neals, Roy Grose and the Halls for help with transport, and for the delicious carrot cake and mandarins team Neal - very much appreciated by all.
😁🌲

Due to bad weather tomorrow's (Sunday 5th July) volunteer day is postponed until Sunday 19th July.

If you want to join us or find out more email: [email protected]

Great acknowledgement of the advocacy and work the Trust has pushed for from the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

PM Luxon on Government's Agricultural Support at Fieldays REX · Chapter · 7m

You can tell that there's an election coming up, when the Government uses pre-budget announcements to try to shore up support.

It is welcome that FINALLY the Government has pledged an extra $79 million for the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme. But it has taken three years for the Government to recognise the urgency. The see-saw in funding has not helped all the volunteers and workers like the Whakatipu Wilding Control Group and the South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust who are hard at work tackling the Wilding problem. This is the same Government that cancelled the Jobs for Nature programme, which supported the Wilding Control efforts nationwide.

Long-term environmental issues need long-term funding, not ad-hoc funding to shore up votes when an election is on the horizon. This funding is welcome, but needs to be part of a long-term strategy to protect native landscapes, unique biodiversity and productive soils. To reduce fire risk and protect communities. Surely, this is something we can all get behind?

[Photo of four of us including Steve Abel MP on the Molesworth Station, guided by Ket from the South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust]

Help Save Campaign - Wilding Pine Network NZ Why this campaign is needed There is low public awareness outside of people directly impacted and those involved in control) about what’s at stake with wilding pine spread if control is not adequately funded.... Read more

Our Chair John Oswald got invited alongside his son Pete - Programme Director Central Otago Wilding Conifers Control Group to Queenstown for the government's 3 year commitment to eradicating wilding pines from our landscapes.

Prime minister Christopher Luxon has announced $79m extra funding for wilding conifer control over 3 years nationally. That takes total national annual funding from $10m per year to $36.3m. Also being developed is a National Pest Management Strategy that, we are told, should help ensure longterm funding and a robust legal frame work to restrict spread from seed sources.

Andrew Hoggard MP Christopher Luxon Pete OSWALD ::free skier::