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Goal: Maintain a dwarf grassland
Dwarf grasslands occur in semi-arid areas where the annnual rainfall is below 500mm. They are found in Central Otago in the Manuherikia valley, around Alexandra, Cromwell and Luggate.
 Note: Ecologists suggest that attempting to maintain a dwarf grassland "as is" is only feasible for small areas where intense active management is possible.
Two options have been suggested:
MANAGEMENT GUIDELINE:
Option 1 (preferred option)
- Light extensive grazing with stock and/or rabbits
- Fence grassland if grazing is necessary- to prevent stock grazing other vegetation communities adjacent to the induced short tussock grassland
- Establish a buffer zone to protect grassland from the management impacts of neighbouring grasslands (e.g. AOSTD drift, uncontrolled fire risk etc.).
- Weed control
Woody weeds, such as rose brier, will especially require controlling.
 for more information on weed control
- Animal pest control
Rabbits are likely to be greatest problem; locally, feral goats.
- Monitor area to determine success of the management option in achieving the desired goal, including status of weed and animal pest populations.
The risk of grazing is that palatable native species will be lost. Monitoring will therefore be important to ensure that an acceptable balance between maintaining desirable species and assessing which species one is prepared to lose, can be achieved.
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Option 2
- No grazing (removal of stock and rabbits)
- Weed control
This may include hand weeding of undesirable aggressive species, and woody weed control. for more information on weed control
- Planting of palatable native species which have been lost through past grazing regimes.
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GUIDELINE:
Under construction - please share your ideas with others by using the "comments" bar below.
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Management options