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Maintaining a Fescue Tussock Grassland
Most fescue tussock grasslands have been induced by pastoral management through repeated burning and grazing of tall tussock grasslands in the past. Many fescue tussock grasslands have been further modified by pastoral development so are dominated by pasture plants important for stock grazing, such as browntop, sweet vernal and clovers.
Fescue tussock grasslands, like other induced short tussock grasslands, are fraught with problems, whether managed for conservation or pastoral use. They are not only rabbit-prone, but also weed prone. Hieracium have spread to alarming levels in some areas e.g. Mackenzie Basin. Wilding pines are widespread in west Otago and inland Canterbury.
Fescue tussock grasslands may be managed for conservation to preserve a natural indigenous form of grassland.
Management will be active so conservation managers will need to choose areas they want to protect.
An important factor which will determine how an induced temporate short tussock grassland is managed is the degree to which exotic plants dominate the community.
 if the grassland is largely dominated by exotic plants
if the grassland has a significant component of native plants
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Management options