News
Update: August 2023
Harvesting
2022-23 has seen harvesting operations in the following forests:
Establishment
489 hectares of cutover was re-planted and fertilised during the winter season 2022 across several different forests.
SWEL/SPFL is planning to re-establish a further 540 ha of cutover in the 2023 season with land preparation operations already underway.
Forest Health and Biodiversity
SPFL in conjunction with the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) and Scion continue to fund and support work around introducing the biocontrol agent Eadya paropsidis, a parasitic wasp for the control against the defoliating pest Paropsis charybdis or eucalyptus tortoise beetle. Results to date have looked very promising with final testing against the potential of the wasp to attack non-targeted native and beneficial insects completed. A trial release of parasitised paropsis larvae were released across several forest sites in Dec 2022 and will be monitored for success during the 23/24 summer months.
Nesting Falcon pairs have been ever-present in the cutover & newly planted area. The falcons take refuge and build their nests in the windrows that SWEL created prior to establishment. These provide a great habitat for this nationally endangered species.
Forest Access by Public
Numerous people were granted access permits for SPFL forests this year. This included access for hunting, bee keeping and other recreational activities.
Harvesting
2022-23 has seen harvesting operations in the following forests:
- Duthie & Turner Forests (Hamilton Burn)
- McPherson & Shangrila Forests (Lillburn Valley, Western Southland)
- Groveburn Forest (Western Southland)
- McConnell, Sim & Howden Forests (Blackmount, Western Southland)
- Marshall and Merrivale Forests (Longwoods, Western Southland)
- Walker Forest (Waimahaka, Eastern Southland)
- Tinker Forest (Mimihau, Eastern Southland)
- Blair, Goldingham, Wylie & Voice Forests (Catlins, Eastern Southland)
- Cave and Lyder Forests (Waimahaka, Eastern Southland)
- Andrew Forest (Otipiri Gorge, Central Southland)
- English Forest (Castledowns, Northern Southland)
Establishment
489 hectares of cutover was re-planted and fertilised during the winter season 2022 across several different forests.
SWEL/SPFL is planning to re-establish a further 540 ha of cutover in the 2023 season with land preparation operations already underway.
Forest Health and Biodiversity
SPFL in conjunction with the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) and Scion continue to fund and support work around introducing the biocontrol agent Eadya paropsidis, a parasitic wasp for the control against the defoliating pest Paropsis charybdis or eucalyptus tortoise beetle. Results to date have looked very promising with final testing against the potential of the wasp to attack non-targeted native and beneficial insects completed. A trial release of parasitised paropsis larvae were released across several forest sites in Dec 2022 and will be monitored for success during the 23/24 summer months.
Nesting Falcon pairs have been ever-present in the cutover & newly planted area. The falcons take refuge and build their nests in the windrows that SWEL created prior to establishment. These provide a great habitat for this nationally endangered species.
Forest Access by Public
Numerous people were granted access permits for SPFL forests this year. This included access for hunting, bee keeping and other recreational activities.