Staveley Camp native forest restoration boosts biodiversity
A five-year monitoring project at Staveley Camp in mid-Canterbury has revealed remarkable native forest restoration results, with regenerating native bush, increasing birdlife and former weed-infested areas transforming into thriving native forest.
Environment Canterbury has been funding the project since 2017, highlighting the value of protecting existing forest remnants rather than creating new habitat.
At a glance:
- Five years of monitoring (2020–2025)
- Hundreds of invasive weed species removed over the last five years
- Kererū population more than doubled from two or three birds to seven.
Native regeneration exceeding expectations
Forest Care Coordinator Gen de Spa, who will step down at the end of the year after nine years in the role, said the forest is now in a much healthier state.
“We are much more on top of the large seeding sycamores, rowans, hawthorns, elderberries and cherries, with hundreds removed over the last five years,” she said.
“In most areas where weed control has happened, native regeneration is natural, fast and diverse.”
A surprise has been the arrival of new native species, including a rarely seen mahoe plant, likely brought in by birds.
“I’ve only just found a mahoe for the first time, which is really exciting. The species list is growing all the time.”
Forest Care Coordinator Gen de Spa
Community-led native forest restoration delivers results
Community involvement has been central to the project’s success. Staveley Camp hosts community groups, retreats and school camps, while volunteer weeding days and environmental education programmes have connected hundreds of people with the restoration effort.
The project is also inspiring neighbouring landowners to protect native bush on their own properties.
When Gen arrived in Staveley in 2017, she began with a 150-hour contract focused on controlling cotoneaster and Darwin’s barberry.
“It became obvious very quickly how much work and attention this remnant forest needed,” she said.
Since then, she has secured funding, organised volunteer events, supported school programmes and recently completed a book documenting the history of the camp and forest.
Despite the gains, ongoing weed control remains essential, particularly for sycamore and cotoneaster.
“There’s still more to do, but with ongoing support and funding we can continue building on the momentum and protect this remarkable forest into the future,” Gen said.
Birdlife returns to the forest
The forest’s recovery is also being reflected in birdlife, with flocks of kererū now regularly observed alongside pīwakawaka (fantails) and tauhou (silvereyes).
“For the first six years I watched the kererū population sit at two or three birds,” Gen said. “Then in 2024 it jumped to four and in 2025 to seven.”
Pest control targeting possums, rats, hedgehogs and mice, supported through community groups such as the Methven & Foothills Birdsong Initiative, is also helping to reduce pressure on native wildlife.
The team also released Chilean flame creeper beetles as a biological control agent earlier this year to help tackle invasive Chilean flame creeper.
A model for biodiversity restoration
Environment Canterbury Biodiversity Advisor Tilly King said the project demonstrates the value of long-term investment in biodiversity.
“Staveley Camp is a great example of what can be achieved when communities, landowners and councils work together over many years,” she said.
“The monitoring shows that protecting existing native forest remnants can deliver outstanding biodiversity outcomes, from native regeneration to increased birdlife and stronger ecosystem resilience.”
As Gen prepares to move on, the recovery of Staveley Camp stands as a testament to nearly a decade of dedication, community effort and sustained environmental investment.
Photopoint monitoring shows dramatic changes, with invasive weeds replaced by dense native regeneration including wineberry, broadleaf, fuchsia, marbleleaf and other pioneering species
Photopoint monitoring shows dramatic changes, with invasive weeds replaced by dense native regeneration including wineberry, broadleaf, fuchsia, marbleleaf and other pioneering species
