Restoration Planting
A guide to planning restoration planting projects in the Wellington region
Why consider restoration planting?
Wellington's ecosystems need your help!
The Wellington region's ecosystems are unique and special. Our region has a particular climate, terrain and soil types that together make our forests, wetlands, dunes and streamside areas different from other parts of New Zealand.
Healthy native ecosystems help keep us and our environment healthy. They clean the air, keep our water clean, stabilise the climate and detoxify our wastes.
Today, in many parts of the Wellington region there is but a shadow of our original native vegetation left. Many plants and animals have become extinct and many are threatened - along with the places they live. Much of our region's lowland bush has been cleared, wetlands drained and waterways degraded to make way for farming and the growth of our city and towns.
Reaping the rewards of restoration
The news isn't all bad though!? Across the region, community groups and individuals are replanting bare land and restoring bush blocks, wetlands, dunes and streamside areas with native plants.? Replanting or restoring native plants helps us reclaim some of what we've lost - the plants, the animals and the wider ecosystem benefits - making our region a more attractive and healthy place to be.
Restoring areas with native plants:
- improves biodiversity - the variety of all life
- provides places for native birds and insects to flourish and move between
- helps protect soil and prevent erosion
- provides a carbon sink to remove greenhouse gases from our atmosphere
- improves the look and natural character of our landscape
- provides areas for recreation and enjoyment.
This guide is aimed at both individuals and groups, and provides information about how to successfully restore areas of native vegetation in the Wellington region.? While it focuses on native bush, the principles and practices also apply to other ecosystems such as wetlands, dunes and streamside areas.