A huge milestone for the Whakatipu Wilding Control Group

Whakatipu Wilding Control Group (WCG) recently announced an impressive and hard-won milestone: after 16 years of consistent effort, the Shotover Management Unit has moved into a ‘maintenance-only phase’ of controlling wilding pines.

With an area of approximately 67,000 hectares, weeding out pest trees is a big accomplishment.

WCG Chairman Grant Hensman says it was a collaborative effort with many organisations working together.

“This achievement is evidence of their ongoing collaboration and determination. This is an amazing milestone to celebrate but it also highlights the need to continue management and efforts in this space.”

The Shotover Management Unit area is home to NZ’s first hydroelectric power plant, the spectacular 123-year-old suspension bridge at Skippers Canyon, and Macetown Historic Reserve.

Wilding conifers (aka wilding pines) are New Zealand’s number one pest plant. The introduced and self-seeded trees grow where they’re not wanted, and their seeds blow many kilometres, infesting Whakatipu’s sensitive alpine landscape, in turn decimating biodiversity.

Whakatipu Wilding Control Group work collaboratively to protect our outstanding natural landscapes and unique alpine biodiversity from wilding pine threats, by reducing spread and removing seed sources.

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