National Wilding Conifer Control Programme

Client - Environment Canterbury (ECan)

Location - Canterbury

Project Date - 2022 - Ongoing

Who We Worked With - Environment Canterbury (ECan), Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), Toitu te Whenua (LINZ), Department of Conservation (DoC), Wilding Free Mackenzie, WELRA, Wilding Pine Network, Ohau Conservation Trust, Mackenzie District Council (MDC).

Environment Canterbury appointed Zolve Environmental as the delivery partner for the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme (NWCCP) for Canterbury.

Wilding Conifers are invasive species of conifer such as pine, fir, and larch that have self-seeded and spread uncontrollably, These Wilding Conifers pose a serious threat to New Zealand's native ecosystems. Introduced initially for timber, shelter, and erosion control, these exotic conifers have adapted well to New Zealand’s environment, with some species’ seeds capable of traveling long distances by wind, rapidly outcompeting native vegetation. This issue is particularly severe in the high-country areas of South Canterbury. 

Zolve Environmental serves as the delivery partner for Environment Canterbury (ECAN), providing comprehensive project management services for the wilding conifer control program across the whole Canterbury region. Our role encompasses strategic and tactical planning, preparing annual operational plans, and managing contractors across all control methods, including helicopters, mechanical, and ground crews. We also oversee health and safety management and auditing, as well as stakeholder and landholder engagement. 

In the 2023/24 financial year, Zolve Environmental successfully managed and delivered approximately $8 million worth of wilding control operations across Canterbury. Additionally, we partnered with ECAN to launch the first pilot program transitioning wilding control responsibilities from the national program back to landowners, working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). 

Our work extends to collaborating with various community groups involved in wilding tree control, such as the Wilding Free Mackenzie Trust, which promotes awareness and strategic approaches to managing wilding trees in the Mackenzie Basin, and WELRA, which addresses the wilding conifer problem in areas like Craigieburn, Castle Hill Basin, and the Torlesse Ranges. 

Through these extensive efforts within various wilding tree programs, Zolve Environmental is making a significant, ongoing contribution to the control and management of wilding trees in Canterbury and beyond.