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?

Trees for Survival (TFS) is a programme established by the Pakuranga Rotary Club in 1991. It is an initiative designed to teach school students to nurture and plant native trees on erosion-prone private land to control soil erosion and enhance biodiversity and water quality.

Currently there are sixty three schools in the Auckland region active in the programme planting over forty thousand native trees every year.  

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.

How does the programme work?

The TFS Management Committee coordinates the programme.

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

• An ARC Land Management Officer 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.
  
• 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
• Providing transport for students on planting day.
  
• Schools 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.
  
• Landowners are responsible for:
• Providing the sites for the native trees to be planted.
• Ensuring hat 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
  
• Field officers are volunteers who are often connected to the school in some way. They may provide assistance to the teacher in charge of the plant growing unit at pricking out, potting up or planting sessions or in general care of the unit.

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 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 www.tfsnz.org.nz 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