Stuart Landsborough feedback

Last week Mark published an item from Stuart Landsborough, from Wanaka's Puzzling World about his recent epiphany about how we can deal with climate change. I found Stuart's item contained some great points, and it resonated with me. I'm worried about whether we'll be able to prevent catastrophic climate change.

We've had a few responses to Stuart's item:

Jeff Bryant wrote:

“I like Stuart's lateral thinking.

Unfortunately, the spread of wilding conifers creates an ever-increasing threat of fire hazard with climate change. Just ask the residents of Ohau village who lost their homes a few years back.”

Lance Kennedy wrote:

“Stuart talks about fighting global warming by permitting wilding pines to flourish. I would like to point out the big flaw in that argument.

Pines are flammable. When we get a very hot and dry summer (guess what global warming promises!) they become very, very flammable. It is kind of obvious what will happen if NZ ends up with vast areas of these pines.

We have a wonderful native rain forest. Surprisingly, most of our rain forest trees are highly resistant to forest fire. The only very flammable native trees are manuka and kanuka. NZ native trees generate a forest that is long lasting.

I come from a tree loving family. My father was the founder of the Tauranga Tree Society, and he planted tens of thousands of trees in his time, and established the McLarens Falls Park. He has an arboretum inside that park named after him. I have been strongly influenced by his example. Where my father has planted tens of thousands of trees, my feeble effort amounts only to thousands.

My tree thing, though, is natives. In my last home in Tutukaka, I planted out four acres of native rain forest, which is now growing well and absorbing carbon. According to the New Scientist magazine, every acre planted, while the trees are growing, will absorb the carbon emissions generated by the average western adult. So the four acres I planted there should be taking care of the carbon emissions of my wife and myself, and two other adults.

My recent project at my new home is just one acre. The first planting is now complete, and those small native trees are growing. Not too many manuka though! Next winter, I will be planting more trees to replace the ones that died (inevitable but sad). Given a few years, a new native rain forest will spring up.

Carbon sequestration, of course, is strong only during the years that those trees are growing. It takes ten to twenty years before growth of our slow growing natives reach the point where they make a major dent in carbon dioxide. But global warming is a long term problem. We will be fighting it long after I am resting in my grave. But by 2050 the forests I plant will be doing sterling service.

It is also worth bearing in mind the added benefits. Native forest brings and supports the native bird population. It reduces flooding. It increases precipitation (vitally important in the face of climate change driven droughts). It provides a joy to those of us who love the outdoors.

Pines may grow quickly. But they burn even more quickly. They are ugly. They are poor supporters of our native birds and animals. Any benefit from permitting wilding pines to flourish is short term and short sighted. Let's plant the native forests that will still be here after the passage of centuries.”

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