Paremata Flat Reserve is a publicly-owned area, under the jurisdiction of Nelson City Council, that encompasses tidal, river and land biodiversity systems.
Tree planting at Paramata Reserve
The reserve, on the shoreline of Delaware Bay is one of Nelson City's best kept secrets. 20kms North of Nelson, this remnant of coastal forest and surrounding estuary is home to fernbirds and banded rail.
In an ecological evaluation the Nelson City Council gave the reserve the highest value, due to the patch of lowland coastal forest which contains a number of locally rare native trees. The reserve has been fenced off since 2000, and our branch has run a twice-weekly volunter pest trapping program since 2007, which has helped to stabilise fernbird and banded rail populations.
Banded rail are shy, secretive and reluctant to take to the air. They are found in swamps dominated by reeds and sedges. (Photo: Les Moran)We have also held annual planing days to restore the area with species of makaka, Oleria solandri, flax, kahikatea, kowhai, and Melicytus and Pittosporum species. These species provide food and shelter for fernbirds, tui and kereru. By planting podocarps in the reserve Forest & Bird will also help in the restoration of a once extensive alluvial podocarp forest.
The Wakapuaka River, running adjacent to the Paremata Flat Reserve and into the Delaware Estuary suffers from the impact of human practices, which adversely affect river quality and impact on the estuary. Ecological restoration of the reserve will enable it to filter contaminants during extreme weather and will provide a positive example to others with land bordering the river.
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Forest & Bird plans to raise up to $240,000 to grow approx 120,000 eco sourced native trees over the next 5 to 7 years. $50,000 has already been raised and soon 10,500 trees will have been planted. Funding is in place to increase planting to 15,000 for the 2013 year.
Nelson-Tasman Forest & Bird view the Paremata Flat Reserve project as a ‘beacon’ project giving prominence to a unique ecology.
Check out Paremata Flats website! http://www.paremataflats.co.nz.
Nine-year-old Ariane's reward for planting, even though her Dad had to piggyback her over the deep water, was to take the stoat and weasel to school for her school biodiversity project — an unexpected practical example of "how to make a difference".
Trap captures, 2010.
