Managing Vegetation

More than 75% of the Town Belt is covered in exotic conifer plantations and regenerating native vegetation. It is important for the scenic, recreational and natural values it brings to central Wellington.

However, it is not self-managing:

• Most of the exotic conifers are old, becoming hazardous and increasingly vulnerable to storm damage. They need to be progressively removed.
• The community supports the restoration of native forest on much of the Town Belt but the former tall, diverse native forest will not regenerate without help. Species like rimu, rata, rewarewa and matai have to be planted as no seed sources remain on the Town Belt.
• Weeds compete with desired vegetation and keep reinvading from private gardens. Ongoing resources for weed control are needed.
• Animal pests damage palatable vegetation and prey on birds. Ongoing resources for control of possums, rats, stoats, feral cats and goats are needed.
  

Vegetation management was all but neglected for several decades in the mid-twentieth century. Significant expenditure is now required to enable the Wellington City Council to progressively implement its Town Belt Vegetation Implementation Plan.

Adequate funds must be allocated on a long-term basis if the Town Belt’s forests are to thrive.

Much of the vegetation management is being implemented under the Council's Hazardous Trees Removal programme. In April 2008, the Council's Forester, Kevin Reardon, gave a talk to the Friends, Wellington Town Belt Hazardous Trees Removal 2008 Update (400 KB pdf).