Coes Ford Reserve

              Today was a short day with the group as many of us left Lincoln University to spend our free weekend in Queenstown. Our morning was spent with Brooke Turner from Te Ara Kakariki at the Coes Ford Reserve. Established in 2006, Te Ara Kakariki is a trust focused on restoring natives in the Canterbury region, where less than 1% of the native flora remains. 
               As we have learned previously, one of the most effective methods for increasing biodiversity is through the establishment of ‘greendots’ and corridors so there is as much land as possible for the native wildlife to utilize in hopes of increasing their population size. Te Ara is Maori for pathway, while Kakariki means green (and is also a type of endangered parakeet in NZ) - so the trust literally translates to green pathway. Working with landowners, community groups, and schools, the trust hopes to raise awareness and encourage involvement in restoration efforts on the reserve and other nearby areas. 
               There has been a 97% success rate when involving the private landowners, but like many things, monetary restrictions play a large roll in whether the landowners take part in restoration efforts. Each plant initially costs about $4.00 (including combigaurds); however, actual cost per plant after 3 years is closer to $25.00 when factoring in the cost of maintenance. The first two years of growth are slow to start, but progress picks up rapidly by the third growth year. After about 4 years, the plants can do well enough on their own to survive and provide a viable habitat to attract the native fauna, which is the ultimate goal of the these projects. In order to sustain a biodiverse ecosystem, there needs to be a minimum of at least 10% native plant population in an area so there is still much more work to be done in the Canterbury Plains. 

Excited to start helping.

Learning about Coes Ford Reserve from Brooke Turner

No Child Left Behind. (except Christina)

Plant growth after about 3 years.

Me way hoter

Headed to the older plantings

Niko and Derek searching for a combi gaurd.

Derek and some combi guards he destroyed.

Freeing the natives!

        After we finished our work removing the combi gaurds restricting the natives, many of us headed to the airport for a quick flight to Queenstown- the adventure capital of New Zealand! 

Queenstown group!

P.S.- Christina got her boot!

~Kacie