You are here: Tussock Grasslands MIS Site Contents Fescue tussock Management options Conservation
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Goal: Encourage the succession of short tussock grasslands to native shrublands or forests.

NOTE:
This goal will be easiest to achieve in moist areas (more than 700mm rainfall) and moist microsites within semi-arid areas.
MANAGEMENT GUIDELINE:
  • Nil grazing

  • No burning

  • Establish a buffer zone to protect the area from the management impacts of neighbouring grasslands (e.g. seed drift from OSTD; fire risk etc).

  • Fertiliser may increase the rate of change towards woody vegetation (which raises the interesting matter of using fertiliser (or not using) for conservation purposes.

  • Restoration of native woody species may be required.

  • Weed control
    Weeds which can potentially overtop native shrubs (e.g. wilding pines, gorse) are the highest priority for control. However, the role of exotic woody weeds as nurse crops is a viable long term strategy.
    for more information on weed control.

  • Pest control
    Animal control will be essential in most areas. However, some communities e.g. kanuka shrubland found in semi-arid areas, appear to benefit from some rabbit grazing which removes the competitive grasses.

  • Monitor to determine success of this (passive) management option, and status of weed and animal pest populations. for more information on monitoring in tussock grasslands.

Management to encourage native woody plants is generally not compatible with managing an area for pastoral use. In some areas the woody plant areas should be fenced off.