Ecosourcing is using native plants grown from locally sourced seed. Ecosourced plants help to preserve the ecological distinctiveness of an area, and eco-sourced plants are better able to survive in the local conditions.
Ecosourcing refers to the sourcing of indigenous New Zealand plant seed from natural stands of vegetation and then planting the subsequent plants back into the same ecological district or locality from which they originated.
Ecosourcing practices preserve and continue natural, genetic diversity in local native plant populations. The key aspects of ecosourcing are:
- Using local native seeds for local planting
- Collecting representative diversity from the local plant population, by collecting seed from many individual plants from within a wild population, by collecting from different habitats within the population area.
Ecosourced plants should always be used when you are restoring native habitats.
It is particularly important in these areas :
- of outstanding vegetation (e.g. existing areas of native forest) or other sensitive sites e.g. wetlands or coastal margins.
- close to wild populations (e.g. Waitakere Ranges, Hunua Ranges, forest remnants).
- as part of a consent condition.
The reasons why ecosourcing should be practiced when planting native plants, especially native plant revegetation and restoration planting are:
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To maintain genetic diversity
Genetic diversity refers to the variability in the genetic makeup among individuals within a population. Protecting the genetic makeup of local plant populations is especially important for species such as manuka, kanuka, and kowhai that show significant regional variation throughout New Zealand.
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To preserve, restore or maintain species diversity
Species diversity refers to the variety of species within a particular geographical area.
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To increase plant survival
Plants of one particular species sourced from different ecological regions or localities can have distinctively different environmental tolerances. Plants grown from locally sourced seed are accustomed to the local environment therefore are more likely to survive.
By using ecosourced plants we are contributing to the biodiversity and sustainability of our local wild plant communities.
Ecological Districts
Ecological district refers to a local part of New Zealand, where the features of the geology, topography, climate and biology, interrelate to produce a characteristic landscape and range of plant communities unique to that area.
Auckland is an ecological region comprising of seven ecological districts.
Ecological Map of Auckland area
Ecological diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems types (e.g. riparian, wetlands, grasslands, forests)
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STATEMENT
The Native Plant Centre Ltd shall be committed to follow the ‘Ecosourcing Code of Practice and Ethics’ as it applies to all native plants that we collect, have collected, specify through design or contract, propagate, label and sell or otherwise manage for the purpose of ecosourcing.
Our Ecosourcing Strategy shall ensure the requirements of the ‘Ecosourcing Code of Practice and Ethics’ are implemented as a matter of normal operation, and guides the setting up of systems within our business. |
