Environment Canterbury (ECan) plans to request $750,000 in funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to continue the Soil Conservation and Revegetation (SCAR) program until June 2031.
North Canterbury councillor Claire McKay emphasized the long-term benefits of the SCAR program for the region.
“Through strong partnerships with MPI, landowners, and catchment groups, the program is delivering measurable outcomes for soil conservation, water quality, and biodiversity, while also strengthening the resilience of our farming communities.”
Launched in 2019, the program is a collaborative effort funded by ECan, MPI, and landowners, with $10 million invested to date.
Since its inception, the program has resulted in the planting of over 30,000 trees and the retirement of 1,100 hectares of erosion-prone land across 229 farms in the Kaikōura, Hurunui, and Waimakariri districts, with Banks Peninsula added more recently.
ECan’s North Canterbury water and land team leader, Andrew Arps, attributed the program’s success to strong relationships between the council, farmers, and catchment groups.
“The team resonates and works well with farmers. As a result, farmers have got involved in the program in large numbers.”
Arps noted that farmers have found value in the program, gaining insights into more effective land use.
This includes retiring highly erodible areas from production to promote indigenous biodiversity and planting poplar poles to protect pasture areas prone to hill-country erosion.
Three-meter-long poplar poles are planted into highly erodible hill country during winter when dormant. As they awaken, they develop roots and leaves, providing effective soil erosion protection within four to six years.
The SCAR program also supports the establishment of on-farm satellite poplar pole nurseries and funds sheep and deer fencing to exclude stock.
This fencing allows the retirement of unproductive, erosion-prone land, fostering native reversion and planting.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
