Why protect erosion-prone hill country?
Protecting erosion-prone hill country prevents damage to both rural and urban businesses, communities and infrastructure.
Annual costs associated with hill country erosion are estimated at $100 to $150 million, in loss of soil and nutrients; lost production; damage to houses, fences, roads, phone and power lines; and damage to waterways. Under heavy rainfall, up to 10 percent of erosion-prone land under pasture can be lost.
Using forestry to protect erosion-prone hill country can reduce the damage from 10 percent of a catchment to 1 percent.
In February 2004 exceptionally heavy rain in the lower North Island caused severe erosion in the hill country and resulted in extensive flooding across much of the Manawatu-Wanganui region. A similar scenario played out in the Bay of Plenty in 2005.
Following these floods, central government provided approximately $198 million to compensate farmers for lost production, to rebuild roads and bridges, and for rates relief.
It is predicted that climate change will increase the risk and magnitude of extreme weather events.
Regions that are particularly prone to hill country erosion, and the consequent high risk of flooding, are Northland, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Greater Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui and Taranaki. Parts of Eastern Bay of Plenty and Waikato are also prone to erosion and flooding, but to a lesser degree.
Contact for Enquiries
HCE Project Adviser
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
WELLINGTON 6140
Telephone: (04) 894 0632
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