Wild Again’s Current Project is on the South Island of New Zealand
Our current project is to purchase a 1500 acre block of deforested land near Fiordland National Park and the 2.6 million hectare South Westland UNESCO World Heritage Site on the South Island of New Zealand.
This area is characterised by luxuriant rain forest and wetlands. The Fiordland massif and the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand create a barrier to the prevailing westerly winds, causing rain which is often heavy and prolonged. South Westland is a landscape shaped by glaciers into fjords, rocky coasts, towering cliffs, lakes and waterfalls.
Two-thirds of the nearby Fiordland National Park are covered with southern beech and podocarps, some of which are over 800 years old. The park is also home to the world's only alpine parrot specie, the kea, as well as the endangered takahe.
Two of New Zealand's three species of kiwi are found in this area: small numbers of great spotted kiwi Apteryx haasti, and the entire population of the South Island subspecies of brown kiwi Apteryx australis.
The land that Wild Again hopes to purchase however was clear-felled and the timber sold or burned to make way for farmland that is now virtually uneconomic. As it is, the land is unable to regenerate itself. The clear-felling has altered the prevailing conditions as to light, wind, and moisture, and introduced animal species such as possums devour all young vegetation, preventing the rainforest from recovering.
We hope to change all that by:
- Purchasing this land;
- Planting the specific native species that will create the undergrowth in which other native species can flourish (and which is unappetizing to pests);
- Gradually promoting a diversity of species so that the full natural biodiversity can be re-established; and
- Protecting the land against exploitation again forever.
This land meets our criteria for reforestation
The land is an excellent candidate for reforestation and the land meets all of Wild Again’s criteria for reforestation:
- Denigrated condition of the land. The land has been deforested, but it is capable of being reforested because the topsoil is still largely intact.
- CO2 absorbtion. The land is in South Westland, New Zealand, an area of very high rainfall and high organic growth rates. Accordingly, and given the condition of the topsoil, CO2 absorption rates from reforestation are good.
- Environmental sensitivity. Reforestation will reduce erosion and flooding of important river tributaries on this land. It will help restore the natural catchment system for the downstream river.
- Wildlife habitats. Reforestation of this land will restore wildlife habitats for birds. In New Zealand there are no native mammals except for bats and seals. As a consequence many birds are flightless because they have no natural predators. This land will support habitats for many bird species, including – we hope – the kiwi.
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Value for money. This land is inexpensive (particularly by Northern Hemisphere standards). Ongoing costs such as fencing maintenance are low. Another important consideration is that this land, being in New Zealand, may qualify for New Zealand’s unique Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI). This means that the land may earn carbon credits that can be used to offset acquisition and on-going management costs. The PFSI arrangement is unique to New Zealand and is a big part of the reason why New Zealand was chosen.
The kea, the world's only mountain parrot - Availability of public access to the land. Public access via a nearby road is available.
- Support from local communities. The local community generally supports reforestation in this area and we hope to involve local schoolchildren in the replanting effort.
- Visual appearance of the land. The land is clearly visible from public viewpoints and has important waterways that will be visually enhanced by reforestation.
- Ability to acquire. Wild Again Reforestation Trust can hold the title to this land.
Expert help
For this site, Wild Again will employ local soil science experts from the University of Lincoln in Canterbury (New Zealand) to ensure that the species of trees planted are appropriate for the specific location concerned. We expect than an initial fast-growing species such as manuka or kanuka will be established first, to stabilise the land and provide shelter from the wind and sun for the more slow-growing and permanent species.
See it with your own eyes
- You will be able to visit the land if you like, as it will have public access.
- A satellite photo of the forest will be placed on this website, once the land is acquired. This photo will be updated over time to show the development of the forest, together with ground-level photos.
- If you contribute £50 or more, you will have the option to have your name and/or other details such as nationality recorded on a register at the site.
- If you contribute £50 or more, you will have a link to a photograph of your specific piece of land on this website after the land is purchased.
Any contribution is welcome
If you would like to help buy this land and make it Wild Again, click here.