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Pines Support Life

Mature pine stands support a greater diversity of native plants and insects than many other man-made or natural ecosystems in New Zealand, according to a recently completed Forest Research study that compared biodiversity in a variety of situations in the Coromandel area.

Sites studied included the Otahu River estuary sand dunes in Whangamata, grass walkways that provide beach access at Whangamata, pasture used for hay production in the Wentworth Valley, a 6-year-old pine plantation, a 24-year-old pine plantation, and two native bush reserves. Scientists used beetles as ecological indicators of biodiversity in these natural and managed landscapes.

"The greatest diversity, as well as the greatest overall abundance of beetle species, was found in the mature pine stand where open canopy favoured the establishment of many native plants in the understorey," says John Tustin, project leader of the research group. "Most of the beetle species were also native species."

This study has confirmed earlier investigations by Forest Research staff, which have shown that pine stands often support greater diversities of native flora and fauna as they mature.

"While it is clearly important to protect what remains of our native ecosystems, the reality is that much of New Zealand has already been greatly modified, particularly for pastoral farming. The study shows that where retention and enhancement of indigenous fauna is considered important in landuse choice, plantation forestry should be at the desirable end of the scale. With increasing emphasis on the sustainability of production systems, the present study provides further evidence that New Zealand pine plantations are compatible with sustainable landuse," says Tustin.