The first 10,000 of a planned 300,000 native trees have been planted at Coronet Peak.
More than 300 volunteers turned up last Saturday to start the reforestation of the face of the mountain in what is the Whakatipu’s most ambitious replanting effort to date.
Trees That Count has partnered with landowners Soho Property, Te Tapu o Tāne, and Whakatipu Reforestation Trust on the project — the area planted forms part of the Mahu Whenua covenants, Aotearoa’s largest private conservation project, covering more than 55,000 hectares of land owned by Soho Property.
The first natives were donated through support from Department of Conservation as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Ultimately, the goal is to recloak the entire face of Coronet, below the skifield, in native forest.
Over the next five years, the aim’s to plant more than 300,000 natives, with the ultimate potential to plant more than a million trees across the wider site, which will create an ecological corridor from Mt Dewar to Arrowtown.
The project will also support other projects focused on rehabilitating Lake Hayes’ water quality, being carried out by Mana Tahuna Charitable
Trust, by improving the water catchment on Coronet before it reaches the lake.
Te Tapu o Tāne CEO Jana Davis encourages business leaders and non-profit groups to help the community own the project and become stakeholders.
‘‘The real value here is community impact: how do we get community to show up for the whenua (land) that sustains us?
‘‘We would like people to come to our home and see a community united in restoration and understanding their lasting legacy.
‘‘This is an amazing opportunity for all of us.’’
Davis says it’s not just about ‘‘mitigating and conserving’’, but improving the environment.
‘‘We would like to see this as a model for regenerative tourism where people can get involved either as individuals or as part of an organisation.’’
Trees That Count partnerships head Melanie Seyfort says the charity’s working to direct large-scale investment into the project, but can also
use its existing marketplace for individuals to donate trees for Coronet Peak.
‘‘We have the digital and social infrastructure to connect large-scale business or philanthropic investors with ambitious regeneration projects, and that’s our mission for Coronet Peak for the years ahead.
‘‘It’s also a real opportunity for our community, and for visitors to Queenstown, to support the regeneration of the region by donating a native tree to this special place.’’
