Summit Forests’ 14th annual Arbor Day planting day at Little Gem lake saw 1,400 eco-sourced seedlings planted by keen members of the local community. Summit staff were joined by 140 Paparore School students, teachers and whanau, Bushland Trust, Department of Conservation, Fish and Game, and Ngai Takoto in a community working bee at the special Northland site.
When you think of Northland you often think of our amazing beaches, but you might not know we live amongst some of the rarest and most threatened ecosystems on the planet — dune lakes. Dune lakes are unique ecosystems, formed by wind creating hollows between dunes, preventing inland water from running out to sea. No rivers or streams flow into these lakes — instead, the lake water comes from rainfall, as well as water seeping up through the sand. Lake Ngatu and Kai Iwi Lakes are some of the better-known ones, but Northland has over 350 dune lakes and many are on private land.
Dune lake Little Gem is hidden behind Lake Ngatu at Sweetwater, 17 km north of Kaitaia, and is one of Summit Forests’ ecological restoration sites. Karen Lucich, Summit Forests Environmental Planner, says Lake Gem is also important because it supports threatened plants and wetland birds like Matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern).
“Restoration projects take a lot of resourcing and it’s important to start small and keep them manageable. We undertake weed control, releasing of planting, and mowing of recreational tracks but its success is the ongoing support of Paparore School and the community,” Karen says. “Summit Forests appreciates people organising a day out of their usual work to be involved in planting days, for the betterment of our environment.”
It was a stunning sunny winter morning for the annual Arbor Day event which had been postponed a week for better weather. Planting conditions were not easy but all 1,400 eco-sourced seedlings were planted. They included Kanuka, Houpara, Manuka, Harakeke, Tī kōuka, Kohekohe, Matipo, Puriri and Taraire. The BBQ provided by the Department of Conservation was well-earned.
Paparore School principal John Windleborn says the school has been involved in numerous planting projects around the lakes as kaitiakitanga of the area.
“This project fits well with the school’s principles of working with the community and caring for the environment. Paparore is proud to be involved and we thank Summit for the opportunity,” John says.
Steve Amon, a founding trustee of Bushland Trust, says, “It was great to be part of another very productive Arbour Day planting at Lake Gem. Summit’s commitment to protect Lake Gem with their revegetation project continues to impress. The revegetation project not only helps Lake Gem but also benefits all the wetlands in the area, especially Lake Ngatu. The trees planted will help provide safe habitat for our native birds and add more filtration for the groundwater flowing into the Lake. The Summit team are always very enthusiastic and encouraging to work with and I thank you all for allowing myself and the local community to be part of this wonderful project”.