Eco-sourcing native plants for the Ngāi Tahu Farming Te Whenua Hou restoration planting programme is important to Ngāi Tahu and Lincoln University not only for ecological and cultural values, but also in showing leadership in the use and planting of appropriate plant species. In future, almost all of the native species being planted around Te Whenua Hou as part of the Ngāi Tahu farming restoration planting programme are being eco-sourced – largely from small native reserves on the margins of the site. Seed for the shelter belt plants are now being eco-sourced from the wider Canterbury area using Proseed. Ngāi Tahu Farming Project Manager Ben Giesen says eco-sourcing has always been a very important concept and from the outset he was keen that the programme’s partners, Lincoln University were involved in attempts to source seeds from within the nearby kānuka and mānuka reserves. “Eco-sourcing has played a big part in … Continue reading The importance of eco-sourcing