With so few natural native remnants remaining in Canterbury it is an essential part of Te Ara Kākāriki’s philosophy to only use ecosourced plants. If you are doing your own restoration planting, we highly recommend ensuring any seedlings you purchase and plant are ecosourced.
Ecosourcing is the use of plants that have been grown from locally sourced seeds. These seeds have been harvested from naturally growing remnants, reserves or bush within the same eco-district they will be planted in. Seeds taken from recreational parks, the roadside or amenity garden plantings are not eco-sourced as the plant’s original seed source is unknown.
Over many generations plants adapt genetically to their local conditions meaning their seedlings will be more likely to have better survival rates if they are planted near their original source.
Planting ecosourced plants also preserves the unique characteristics of local plants. With advances in science, discoveries of new species are still being made. For example, kānuka has recently been split into at least eight individual species. When ecosourcing is not used these unique species can be lost due to hybridization.
Whether you are planting 1 or 1000 seedlings, ensure you purchase plants from a local nursery that ecosources and let the nursery know you want only ecosourced seedlings for your site. Help spread the word by telling any neighbours, family and friends who may also be restoration planting. Find out more from the Department of Conservation or the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network by clicking the buttons below.
We really value everyone’s input and support into helping us achieve our goals. Whatever you can do to help will be really appreciated and will make a positive difference.
Simply fill out the form and send us a message and we can then start the ball rolling.
Te Ara Kākāriki Greenway Canterbury Trust is an incorporated Charitable Trust with the goal of increasing biodiversity in Canterbury.
Our mission is to create a ‘Greenway’ – a corridor of native biodiversity Greendots between the Waimakiriri and Rakaia rivers, linking the mountains to the sea Ki uta ki tai.
We’ll send you regular updates on planting days and other useful news (we will not share your details with third parties)
