restoring our waterways

Description

At the beginning of the project, the goal was to revegetate the banks of the Ōtākaro/Avon streams in order to attract native birds and to provide a "green corridor" linking indigenous bush areas in the area. As well as restoring the river and surrounding area. In the course of the project, its objectives broadened to include restoring the ecology and biodiversity of all three waterways. The development of urban areas and the construction of impermeable surfaces such as roads and houses have led to the drying up of many natural groundwater springs. The streams have been supplemented with artificial inputs while the natural flow has been reduced. As a result of building developments and traditional maintenance practices such as mowing lawns to the edges of stream banks and clearing aquatic vegetation from streambeds, grassy lawns and exotic deciduous trees have replaced native forest and wetlands along campus streams. In addition, the above factors have caused a decline in plant and animal diversity, which has contributed to the loss of aquatic and riparian habitat.

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About the author

caitlin Macnamara

• Submitted 1 projects
• Expert at Nature (Biodiversity)
• New Zealand

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