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Eleven hectares of land in Wellington’s Outer Green Belt has been given to a university project to plant native forests.
Vice Chancellor Grant Guilford and Tim Park, leader of the Council’s environmental association.
Photo: Supplied
Wellington City Council today agreed to a 33-year lease with Victoria Te Herenga Waka University for the 11-hectare parcel of land, which is located on the outskirts of Johnsonville.
Funding for the project is borne almost entirely by the university, which will pay $ 100,000 a year for fencing, planting and maintenance.
Meanwhile, the council agreed to pay just under $ 150,000 over 50 years, to spend on pest and weed control.
The University expects that between 18,000 and 28,000 trees can be planted on the site.
Both partners have also agreed to a transfer of carbon credits, where the university will deliver half of the credits generated to the City Council during the entire 33-year term.
The Council expects the proposed area to generate a total of 3,575 carbon credits over a 50-year period.
Members of the public will still be able to access the land.
“As this project moves forward, we will see a beautiful stream in the area,” said Councilmember Teri O’Neill.
“We will plant rimu, totara and ngaio trees, and the shrubs will come to life.
“Anyone who spends enough time in our Outer Green Belt knows the value of bringing forests to our central city.”
The University’s proposed method for planting involves planting 1,600 to 2,500 stems per hectare, rather than the council’s preferred method, which involves planting 5,000 to 6,000 stems per hectare.
Planting fewer stems is believed to maximize carbon sequestration at a lower cost and initial outlay, but requires a higher level of forest establishment.
The University Vice Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford said the projects show the University’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
“We have sponsored an annual Native Tree Planting Day, Growing Graduates, for a few years in Town Belt.
“This is a significant expansion of that program and has the added benefit of enhancing the partnership between the University and the city for the benefit of the people of Wellington.”
University of Victoria sustainability director Andrew Wilks said the council wanted to get more involved in the community.
“We consider ourselves a civic university and we want to contribute more to the society in which we operate. We want to grow the relationship between the university, the city and its residents.
“Additionally, the opportunity for our staff, students, and alumni to get down to business [and] involved in putting trees in the ground, it’s fantastic. “
