Project De-Vine Environmental Trust

Fostering native ecosystems in Golden Bay and the Top of the South

AIM

Eradicate/Control invasive vines and other invasive plants and trees throughout Golden Bay and around the halo of Abel Tasman National Park.

WHO WE ARE

We are a charitable trust made up of volunteers and paid staff.

WHO WE WORK WITH

TDC, DOC, Tasman Environmental Trust, QEII National Trust and Project Janszoon to assist with the control of invasive vines and other invasive plants and trees to help our native forests throughout Golden Bay.

WHY

We focus on key invasive vines and other invasive plants and trees that threaten our native forests and animals.  Vines targeted are Banana Passion Vine, Old Man’s Beard, and Climbing Asparagus. Other invasive plants we control are Woolly Nightshade, Yellow Jasmine, Willows, and Wilding Pines.

HOW

With funding support from the DOC Community Fund, Lottery Environment Grant, The Rata Foundation, Tasman Environmental Trust, Tasman District Council, QEII, WWF, Golden Bay Community Trust, land owners contributions and stand alone contracts. Sponsorship from Nelson Building Society branches and Cut’n’Paste.

PEST SPECIES DESTRUCTION

1,433,847+ invasive vines and other species manually to date (January 2022) Scroll down and see the numbers below.

Trapping Network: Motupipi Estuary, Sandspit and Golf Course

With a small grant from Golden Bay Community Trust, PDVET has started expanding its trapping network from the Grove to meet the sea. The Motupipi estuary, sandspit and golf course provide a great space to get started with the support of the Takaka Golf Club, Friends of East Mohua and TDC.

Community-led Goat Control Program in Partnership with Project Janszoon

A collaborative effort with Project Janszoon in the fight against feral goats in the stunning landscapes of Golden Bay.

Pest Trapping Initiative in The Grove.

Preserving The Grove’s Iconic Ecosystem: Project De-Vine’s Trapping Initiative

Jobs for Nature & The Nature Conservancy (JFNTNC)

The project is called the “Restoring and Protecting Flora” Project. The Nature Conservancy has co-partnered with the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance – see background notes below. It involves wide-scale organised weed management across 35,000 hectares of the northern South Island and will explore the possibility of expanding the protection of some sites through QEII covenanting. Funding of $6 million through Jobs for Nature will employ 29 people with mobilised teams who can work across different locations and provide support to public and private landowners in their aim to leave an environmental legacy we can all share.

MU-C2 Onekaka to Parapara Operational Plan

Onekaka to Parapara to Milnthorpe Reserve – Multiple Invasive pest plant & tree control programme

MU-C1 Takaka River to The Lookout (near Onekaka)

To prevent the spread of Old man’s beard, Banana passion vine, Climbing asparagus & Yellow jasmine along the Golden Bay coast & into Kahurangi National Park. Assessments of invasive plants and follow up control work.

MU-H Marahau to Riwaka

We’re excited to share that Project De-Vine has secured a grant from the DOC Community Fund and the Motueka Community Board for controlling pest vines and wilding Douglas Fir. Covering the area from Riwaka River to Marahau and Abel Tasman National Park, the project aims to assist around 40 larger properties over three years. Landowners seeking assistance can contact Project De-Vine Trust. Stay tuned for details on a working bee in the autumn and a helicopter survey for pine plantations.

MU-E & MU-G1 – Mid Takaka Valley

Multi-species weed control in Golden Bay, focusing on Management Units MU-E and MU-G1. Assessments identified 101 clear properties out of 170. The three-year plan, backed by grants, aims to offer controlled work to 30 property owners, ensuring ongoing weed control and protecting adjoining national parks.

MU-D6 Lower Takaka Valley

Property assessments of invasive plants and follow up control work between Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks in Golden Bay

MU-C2 Onekaka to Parapara Operational Plan

Onekaka to Parapara to Milnthorpe Reserve – Multiple Invasive pest plant & tree control programme.

What Do We Control?

Project De-Vine focuses on key invasive vines that threaten our native forests in Golden Bay. The pest plants targeted are Banana Passion Vine, Old Man’s Beard and Climbing Asparagus. These vines have become a major threat to our native forests as they smother, strangle and forever change the forests unique biodiversity.

Banana Passion Vines

Banana Passion Vine is a large vigorous, scrambling, evergreen climbing vine with clinging tendrils, capable of climbing to 10 metres high or higher. The flowers are pink and up to 7 centimetres in diameter, appearing in December. The fruit are yellow when ripe, up to 12 centimetres long, cylindrical with a sweet-flavoured orange pulp containing seeds.

Old Man’s Beard

Old Man’s Beard is a deciduous, woody climber that may reach 25 metres in height. It has conspicuous flowers that are without true petals, but have white sepals, which bloom in late summer. In autumn, a dense down takes the place of flowers. The down consists of long, fluffy tails on the seeds, which lasts well into winter. The down assists during dispersal via wind and water. One plant is capable of blanketing an area of 180 square metres and seeds are produced at the rate of 10,000 per square metre.

Climbing Asparagus

Climbing asparagus was introduced as a garden or potted plant and is causing serious damage to our native plants. It is a perennial vine that climbs several metres, shading or ringbarking large trees. It is able to grow in semi shade so can easily invade our forest. It is a very difficult plant to eradicate once established. Climbing asparagus is spread by birds, runners, the movement of soil and the illegal dumping of garden waste.

How to identify and control the environmental pest plants on your property

  1. Visit Weedbusters NZ website and identify the weeds you are dealing with.
  2. Then, learn how to control weeds from here.

Total Pest Plants Controlled by 31 December 2018

Total Pest Plants Controlled by 31 December 2022

Total Pest Plants Controlled by 31 December 2019

Total Pest Plants Controlled by August 2024

Total Pest Plants Controlled by 31 December 2020

Total Pest Plants Controlled by September 2024

Total Pest Plants Controlled by 31 December 2021

Monthly increase from Aug - September

Project De-Vine Trust Policy

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Quality Management from Start to Finish

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Do It Once, Do It Right

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Working Together to Protect and Enhance Our Environment

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Working Together to Protect and Enhance Our Workplace

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