Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust
The Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust is a voluntary group that works with the Marlborough District Council, land-owners and the Department of Conservation to poison pine trees that have spread from farms and forestry blocks into areas of regenerating bush.
The Trust aims to restore the native bush and skylines of the Sounds. It employs contractors to track down, drill and poison the trees which gradually die and break down where they stand, allowing bush to dominate again. Poison is used rather than felling the tree because when it falls it damages the native undergrowth and spreads its pine cones to seed again.
The Trust also provides advice and herbicide to landowners who want to do the work themselves.
Since 2008 and Trust has spent $1.2m on pine control, leaving a trail of dying trees through Queen Charlotte Sound, Kenepuru Sound and D'Urville Island with Pelorus Sound the next target area.
The Council contributes $30,000 a year to the Trust and also provides support for management plans and GPS tracking of the poisoned trees.
More information can be found on the Marlborough Restoration Trust website.
