Army battles pine trees

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 369, 15 January 1991, Page 7

Army battles pine trees

A three part programme aimed at eradicating Pinus Contorta from Zonc Twcnty in the training area at Waiouru, and costing the Army $1.2 million this year alonc, has begun with the spraying of the trccs ovcr 1800 hectarcs. Pinus Contorta is a Class B Noxious plant. It has the ability of seeding up to 15 kilometrcs. The ManawatuWanganui Regional Council has the responsibility of advising and assisting with its rcmoval and as a consequence is providing the expertise to the army in

overseeing the plant's eradication. Pinus Contorta was originally introduced to the area as a timbcr tree and was planted in the Karioi Slate Forcst, Erua State Forcst and as a shelter on much of the farmland in the rcgion. The first stage of the three part programme has bccn successfully complcted according to Don Clarke, Land Resource Officcr for the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council. "It's gone vcry well indced," says Don Clarke. "The Diquat spray we used in Deccmbcr is fast acting and already the trees are show-

ing signs of dying off." Sixteen hundred litres of Diquat spray was applicd over five days by air. The area, Zone Twenty, is a training ground with unexplodcd ammunition throughout it. As a conscquence removing the trees by hand felling is not possiblc. The trees also inhibit Zone Twenty's effectiveness as a demonstration area for live firing. The effcct on aquatic and insect life is regularly being monitored by Regional Council scientists as Lake Mowhango and the Mowhango strcam skirt around two thirds of the

boundary of Zone Twenty. Both are fed from catchments from within Zone Twenty. "The army have been prepared to invest a large sum of money in this programme which indicates their commitment to the programme," says Pauline Murphy, Horticultural Advisor to the Commander, Army Training Group at Waiouru. The spraying is a precursor to a major burn off duc to take place in mid Fcbruary as conditions allow. "Before that," says Don Clarke, :we will be clearing the area of all animals. Wild horses roam through there and we are particularly conscious of the necd to protect them." Although there has been some suggcstion of having several smallcr burn offs the preferrcd Turnpage9

Pine trees

From page 7 approach is to have one major one. "Thcrc's no guarantce that we'll get the right conditions scveral days running. We're also bringing out a large contingent of Army personnel and fire fighters to control the blaze. To do that on more than one occasion would not be very efficicnt." Following the burn off the area will be regularly checked and natural revegetation encouraged. Re-emcrging Contorta will be spotsprayed to effect control ."At present the native plants have been wiped out by Pinus Contorta which is much hardier. We are keen to see that process reversed. We will replant those areas where the native vegetation doesn't naturally reestablish itself", says Don Clarke. "Once the burn is finished the army will be dependent on Karioi Forest removing all its old seedling trees so that re infestation from the original source is undcr control".