People are encouraged to share their thoughts on a draft forestry management plan for Queenstown Hill Reserve.
The draft plan proposes to remove all wilding trees on the reserve and replant it with a mixed native/exotic forest and scrub/tussock grassland.
Queenstown Lakes District Council community and services general manager Ken Bailey said it was important to know if the community supported the proposed plan for the well-loved reserve, which is part of a wider plan to protect the district’s landscapes and native biodiversity.
"The draft plan guides the staged removal of invasive wilding trees and supports the restoration of a healthy, diverse forest. It assesses the current tree cover and site conditions, and outlines options for harvesting wilding trees and the new plants that will replace them," Mr Bailey said.
The reserve has become progressively dominated by wilding conifers over the past 60 plus years. Submissions close on July 6. — APL
