Expanding our reach
Date: 7th February 2023
Welcome to 2023. We hope you had some time to refresh and revive over the weird and wonderful weather had by many over Xmas and New Year. The world of wildings has had a good airing so far in 2023. Here’s a few articles that have been published. They show the value of local people getting local issues into local media – these stories spread the word locally but also often get picked up by national media. Please keep up this valuable work.
New Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group calls for urgent action on controlling wilding conifers
One of the biggest problems of wilding tree spread is that wildings increase the intensity of wild
fires. In 2018 there was an out-of-control fire on Mt Maude above Lake Hawea and local residents
had to quickly evacuate their homes.
Wanaka resident Arne Cleland is clear that action is required urgently. “We have an opportunity to
get on top of this problem, within the Upper Clutha if we take action now. If we allow the existing
trees to start producing seed, the problem will compound dramatically. Any delay will add
significantly to the cost and make control even more challenging.”
Funding cuts: when good pines could go wild
Funding cuts: when good pines could go wild | BusinessDesk
A good little article on Dec 23rd highlighting the potential economic damage of reduced funding.
Cutbacks threaten wilding pines work
Cutbacks threaten wilding pines work | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)
A great local story focused on the impacts of the funding cut on Otago wilding control and got picked up by the NZ Herald’s ‘The Country’ segment.
Future of wilding control uncertain
Thanks to Federated Farmers ‘FedNews’ for their Jan 31st article on the impacts of reduced funding on the farming sector Future of wilding control uncertain – FedsNews.
Thanks also to the Central Otago wilding group for their snappy video about control at Brewery Creek in Cromwell Gorge Brewery Creek update from Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group (COWCCG) – YouTube. This is the prominent rock outcrop you see between the river and the road after you go over the road bridge out of Cromwell heading to Clyde.
We need to continue to get our story into the media and far and wide – we must sustain the gains made by all of the people who have collectively made significant progress with wilding work around the country. We can do this best by expanding our reach and getting the word out that this is a battle we can win.
Posted in: News