Whatawhata Catchment Management Project: the story so far

Abstract

Changes in land use and management were applied to a 296 ha catchment farm at the Whatawhata Research Centre in 2000-2001 to improve its economic and environmental performance. The area had erosion and weed reversion challenges, poorly performing beef and sheep breeding enterprises, and degraded streams. Changes included conversion of the steepest land to plantation forestry; indigenous forest restoration; intensification of the farming enterprises onto easier terrain with better pasture production; changes in stock type; poplar planting for soil stabilisation; and exclusion of livestock from streams. Significant improvements have followed. The per hectare economic surplus for the pastoral enterprise improved from 30% below industry average to 13% above. The forestry enterprise will further improve economic performance in the long-term. There were reductions in the export of suspended sediment (76%), total phosphorus (62%), and total nitrogen (33%). Water clarity has increased, stream temperature has declined and stream invertebrate indices indicate improvements in the fauna. Keywords: agriculture, forestry, macroinvertebrates, riparian, water quality, nitrogen, phosphorus