Trees for Survival

• What is Trees for Survival?
• Why plant native trees?
• How does the programme work?
• How can I get involved?
• Who is involved with TFS in the Auckland region?

What is Trees for Survival?

• A community partnership involving 67 schools in the Auckland region planting over 40 000 native trees each year
• Students raising and nurturing the native trees in their school
• Schools using this hands-on experience in their teaching of the curriculum
• Students planting the trees on erosion-prone rural land in the region
• The landowner ensuring the success of the planting by controlling weeds and pests
• Supporting organisations funding the growing facilities and resources for the school to be able to raise the trees
• Auckland Regional Council coordinating and delivering the programme in the Auckland region
• An opportunity for students to experience a day on a farm each year and be involved in a programme with proven environmental benefit.

Why plant native trees?

• Trees help to fight erosion by binding soil particles with their roots.
• By planting on the margins of our waterways, trees help reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients being washed into our streams, rivers and estuaries and affecting water quality.
• The canopy of the trees act like an umbrella in heavy rain events, protecting the soil surface and tree roots and leaf litter, and slowing the movement of the water into the waterway.
• Trees reduce moisture levels in the soil through transpiration - the loss of water through the leaves.
• The planting of native trees on farmland enhances biodiversity by providing habitats for birds, insects and other organisms.
• The shading provided by trees over the waterways moderates the temperature of the water and improves conditions for invertebrates and fish in the water.
• Trees play a vital role absorbing the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

How does the programme work?

The TfS Management Committee coordinates the programme.

The Auckland Regional Council is involved in a number of ways:

• ARC arranges the collection and germination of the seed used by the programme in the Auckland region.
  
• ARC employs a TFS Coordinator to:
• Arrange the delivery of the seedlings to schools
• Run pricking out and potting up sessions with students teaching them how to nurture the trees.
• Liaise with landowners and assesses potential planting sites and existing plantings
• Coordinate the planting programme.
• As planting season approaches the ARC employs a number of planting day coordinators and provides the equipment for each of the planting sessions with the schools.
• Work with TfS and ARC Field Officers to coordinate the TfS programme in schools
  
• Support organisations and sponsors include service organisations (such as Rotary clubs) and motivated businesses. They are responsible for:
• Financing the plant growing unit required by each school.
• Covering the ongoing unit running costs such as seedlings and potting mix.
• Providing personnel to attend sessions at the schools
• Assisting with delivery of materials
• Liaising with schools to establish what assistance they can give to students on planting day.
  
• Schools involved in the programme are responsible for:
• Growing the seedlings to a plantable size. Throughout this process they impart knowledge to the students on the nurturing of plants and the importance of the trees in enhancing the environment.
• Giving the opportunity for students to spend a school day planting the trees they have reared - for some this may be their first visit to a farm.
• The maintenance and security of their plant growing unit.
  
• Landowners, as partners, are responsible for:
• Providing the sites for the native trees to be planted.
• Ensuring that the site is permanently fenced off from stock and prepared for planting by removing weeds and animal pests.
• On planting day ensuring that plants are on site, give assistance to planters and provide lunch and refreshments as a way of saying thank you to the planters.
• Maintain plantings to ensure their long term success

How can I get involved TFS?

• Sponsor a plant growing unit at your local school and get the programme up and running in your area.
• Your community organisation could become a supporting organisation for a school and help pay the annual running costs of the plant growing unit.
• As a landowner you may have some erosion-prone land which you are planning to retire and plant out.
• Become a volunteer TfS field Officer and help a school in the TFS programme.

If you are enthusiastic, like working with students and want to do something positive for our environment, Trees for Survival can use your skills.

For more information visit www.tfsnz.org.nz, watch the online video or contact:

Vanessa Vujcich,
Land Management Officer
Auckland Regional Council
Tel: 09 366 2000 ext 8362
Email: vanessa.vujcich@arc.govt.nz

Who is involved with TFS in the Auckland region?

Schools and supporting organisations