A role for native plants in river-edge protection - Wellington Botanical Society

The Wellington Botanical Society (WBS) has had a long relationship with the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) through submissions on GWRC's plans and proposals. During 2001-2002, this relationship was strengthened by working with GWRC on the potential for native riparian plants (plants that grow on a river bank) in flood protection.

Traditionally, GWRC used willows almost exclusively as river-edge protection. However, the WBS believe mixed ecological plantings are preferable. There is a whole suite of riparian native plants that, together, would work very well in improving regional biodiversity and in erosion protection.

The WBS first approached the GWRC on the matter in 1994, providing a list of about 30 native species for consideration. We continued to raise the concept through Annual Plan processes until 2001, when a GWRC community relations officer heard their oral submission and invited the WBS to meet a key member of the GWRC Flood Protection staff.

This led to a meeting with GWRC's Flood Protection representatives in November 2001. They defended their current strategy of using willows, but by the end of that meeting had agreed to a joint field trip to some riparian sites. The field trip opened a genuine dialogue between the two groups. As a result, GWRC agreed to trial native plants in four locations. Two members of the WBS were invited to help develop the protocols for the trials and fruitful, constructive discussions followed.

By June 2002, the Flood Protection team and the WBS had developed and agreed on a set of protocols and chosen four trial sites on the Hutt River. Two of the sites were considered very difficult and one of them was withdrawn from the trial. The other two were not as tough, but all are subject to scouring and inundation.

The Flood Protection team sourced the plants the WBS recommended, paid for them and arranged delivery. WBS members helped Council staff with the plantings and the trials were to be carefully monitored by two independent auditors.

The keys to this successful initiative included:

• the personal initiative of the GWRC community relations officer
• the willingness of two key members of the Flood Protection team to try something new
• WBS knowledge and experience - one member is an internationally known consulting ecologist
• previously established personal working relationships with GWRC staff in the environment and landcare divisions.

In addition, the field trip helped the WBS and GWRC get to know each other, building mutual understanding and respect. WBS members were given responsibilities (such as to develop the protocols) and e were invited to take part in the wider debate. The groups felt they were listened to and have contributed to decision-making.

The WBS also acknowledge the effort and commitment of key Flood Protection staff, who were prepared to advocate the project to their managers and arrange for the release of funds.

From a process point of view, the WBS experienced challenges at several points. These included:

• establishing credibility and offering options that were contrary to existing thinking and practices
• the time it took to get a meeting with the right people at GWRC
• choosing the trial sites.

It is a great step forward to have the trials. However, the WBS still struggle with some people's mistaken perception that the trials are of native species versus willows. The trials are simply assessing the performance of selected native species to determine which are likely to be most suitable in such riparian sites. The GWRC and WBS will then have a clearer picture of the potential of these selected native species to perform in this difficult riparian environment.

The WBS now has a more effective working relationship with the GWRC Flood Protection team - not just in this project but across the spectrum of ecological issues.

Through working together, we believe we have increased our credibility. We are now routinely included in a range of reference groups and discussions, commenting on documents before they go out for wider public consultation. We are now more proactive, offering ideas during the early stages.

This case study was prepared by Barbara Mitcalfe, a member of the Wellington Botanical Society.

For more information contact:
Barbara Mitcalfe, member
Wellington Botanical Society
PO Box 10-412 Wellington
Tel: 04 475 7149