Southland Ecological Restoration Network

A Network of Southland Community Conservation Projects

Oreti Totara Dune Forest

Location:: 344 Oreti Road Otatara
Region:: Invercargill
District:: ICC

Commenced:: 2020
Access:: Private - Native Forest Restoration Trust
Area (ha):: 71

Contact:: Jesse Bythell

Website:: Visit website

Description

Restoration of a dune totara forest with some Matai/Manuka/coprosma/te kouka/makomako/lowland Southland species

Historic involvement

Knight Family, Southland Tramping Club

Current involvement

Native Forest Restoration Trust, Otatara Pestbusters

This rare totara forest system on sand dunes is easily explored following the mown paths throughout. The large totara here is estimated to be around 300 years old.

A stand of matai is found on the drier north east side. With the removal of stock from the area, ferns and native seedlings are starting to appear.

Intensive predator control is being undertaken, which will also help in the recovery of the native understory plants, along with the numbers and diversity of birdlife.

There is one large area of permanent water, home to a number of waterfowl, including scaup (black teal). There are also several ephemeral wetlands providing further habitat diversity.

The native vine, muehlenbeckia, covers the totara in many areas. This tends to be an edge effect, so helps to protect the interior of the bush, as well as being host to numerous native insect species including the stick insect.

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