Hill Country Erosion

Managing hill country erosion is an increasing part of our land management programme. This is due to sediment from hill country impacting negatively on water quality downstream.

Environment Southland has specially made pole bars to help with planting available for loan, and may also be able to provide sleeves.

Environment Southlands land sustainability team is available at no additional cost (services covered by your rates) for further farm specific advice.

Please feel free to contact us if you would like any advice or assistance in managing erosion on hill country at your property.

A Guide To Managing Hill Country Erosion

We have produced a comprehensive booklet on Hill Country Erosion, filled with useful advice and information.

Check it out here: Environment Southland Hill Country Erosion Booklet

The guide covers topics such as:

- Mitigation options
• Space planting
• Fencing for reversion
• Afforestation
• Detainment bunds

- Mitigation trials in the Orauea catchment
• Land retirement and native planting
• Tangoio willow pole planting of a slip
• Space planting of a slumping hillside

- Key learnings from our Orauea catchment trials

- Key steps to successful pole planting

- Information on creating an on-farm poplar and willow pole nursery

- MPI Hill Country Erosion Programme

Advice

Environment Southland's land sustainability team are here to help farmers who are interested in undertaking hill country erosion mitigation work.
We highly recommend the use of pole sleeves to protect your young trees as they establish.
Environment Southland has a subsidy to provide 50-100 sleeves to landowners in Southland each winter.
Contact a land sustainability officer for more information. You can also contact us for information on where to source pole sleeves from private suppliers.

Email service@es.govt.nz or phone 0800 76 88 45 and ask to speak to a land sustainability officer.