12 June 2015

Local board adopts plan to protect ecology of Waitākere Ranges

The Waitākere Ranges Local Board has adopted a plan to help protect the Waitākere Ranges from invasive weeds.

“Weeds present a huge and growing threat to the ecology of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area,” says local board member Saffron Toms, who holds the board’s environment portfolio.

“A number of weed species are out-competing and choking our native flora. We’ve adopted the Waitākere Ranges Strategic Weed Management Plan to address this critical issue in a systematic, coordinated way.”

The Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area is an area of national significance. Its proximity to New Zealand’s largest urban area, plus its historical, cultural, recreational and water supply values add to the imperative to protect the natural biodiversity of the area.

Native vegetation covers 82 per cent of the local board area and makes up 40 per cent of the native vegetation in the Auckland region.

“Given the size of the ranges and the fact there are settlements scattered within and through them, we can’t control weeds on our own. We need to work with local communities, organisations, as well as private landowners – and there are many passionate, active people in the ranges,” says Toms.

“The plan provides a set of advocacy priorities and recommendations to allocate our limited budgets to combat weeds.”

The board commissioned Jack Craw, former manager of biosecurity at Auckland Council, to write the strategic weed plan.

With Forest & Bird, the board also recently published the poster, Worst Weeds in the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area, to help locals identify and destroy invasive weeds.

For a copy of the poster or the weed management plan, contact the board office on waitakererangeslocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or 09 813 9150.

The poster is also available at the local board office at 39 Glenmall Place, Glen Eden, and the Titirangi, Glen Eden and Piha libraries.

Ends

© Scoop Media