Fears over falling funding for wilding pine control.
Date: 2nd October 2023
Smoke drifting across Lake Pukaki from the large blaze at Pukaki Downs (in mid-September). Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
Listen to a good interview from 27th September with Kathryn Ryan from RNZ – Clint Miles from Mt Cook Station and Sherman Smith from the National Wilding Programme
Clint gives a pragmatic perspective from a landowner whose property when they took it over was 2/3rds covered in wilding pines. Most have been cleared and put back into pasture, but 700 hectares still need to be cleared. He acknowledges the huge role of national programme funding but is clear progress will go backwards quickly with the funding reduction. Sherman provides perspective on the national programme.
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