Restoring Wellington region's natural beauty

19 November 2004

Workshop focuses on restoring Wellington region's natural beauty

A workshop in Wellington on Monday will present new research findings on how best to restore native plant and animal populations. Research in Ecological Restoration * new ideas, approaches and concepts has been organised by Landcare Research in association with the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Landcare Research biodiversity programme leader Bruce Burns says the workshop will feature "a smorgasbord of current research on ecological restoration".

"It includes talks by Greater Wellington Regional Council staff on restoration initiatives throughout the region, and an update by Karori Wildlife Sanctuary staff on progress at the Sanctuary. "Landcare Research staff will speak about how to restore native bird populations in our cities and rural areas, with a focus on iconic birds such as t** and kerer*. "They will also speak on the issue of whether gorse is an appropriate nurse plant for native forest by enabling a range of native seedlings to spring up underneath its protection.

"In addition, there will be a talk by Landcare Research soil scientist Craig Ross on 'hydroseeding' * spraying degraded or eroded sites with a stick-on mix of mosses and seeds." Dr Burns says the workshop was organised in response to enormous interest from community groups throughout the country. "There is a groundswell of public support for bringing native biodiversity back into city and rural areas.

There is also a thirst for information on how to go about doing this. "We have been overwhelmed by the interest in this workshop, from both the public and environmental agencies." Research in Ecological Restoration * new ideas, approaches and concepts Air New Zealand Concourse, Te Papa Tongarewa * Museum of New Zealand, Wellington 9.30 am * 4 pm, Monday 22 November Members of the public are welcome to attend all or part of the workshop for free, or $15 including refreshments.

ENDS

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