title: Assessing drivers of plantation forest productivity on eroded versus non-eroded soils on hilly and steep land in eastern North Island, New Zealand: From catchment to regional scale

authors: Heaphy, Marie

subjects: erosion

abstract: The impacts of soil erosion on forest productivity in a Pinus radiata plantation forest were assessed to determine the effects of key soil properties on tree volume. Fifteen plots on soils markedly eroded (truncated) by landsliding were established in a plantation forested atchment (Pakuratahi) comprising mainly hilly and steepland in a dominantly mudstone/sandstone terrain overlain in places with a mantle of pumiceous tephras in Hawke’s Bay, eastern North Island, New Zealand. Fifteen control plots were established on noneroded soils alongside the eroded soils on landslide scars for comparison. Soils within these eroded and non-eroded sites were analysed and associated trees were measured for height and volume. The analyses of 0.1 m of the soil profile within eroded sites, compared with those of non-eroded sites, revealed that soil properties in eroded sites had significantly lower values: total nitrogen (N) 52%, total carbon (C) 47%, total phosphorus (P) 43% and soil organic matter 36% (SOM) (at 99% confidence interval). The C:N ratio, soil pH, and mean soil depth in eroded plots were also significantly reduced (at 95% confidence interval). Trees on the eroded sites had 14% less volume compared with those growing in soils at the non-eroded sites. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between tree volume and total C, total N, and SOM at 99% confidence interval and total P at 95% confidence interval.
Total recoverable volume was less in trees from eroded plots. Log quality and value was assessed using Atlas Forecaster. High-quality pruned logs and large unpruned structural grade sawlogs returned smaller volumes from the eroded plots than from the non-eroded plots. Lower-grade sawlogs returned a higher volume in the eroded plots. Total recoverable volume for a 25-year rotation growing on eroded sites was valued at $68,494 (2013 value) - 9% less than the estimated value from the control plots ($75,989). Eroded plots yielded 16% less volume from high quality pruned logs which accounted for a reduction in revenue of around $4,000 per hectare at eroded sites. A reduction in total recoverable revenue was estimated at $7,500 per hectare on eroded sites.
Erosion scars were measured and the average soil loss was estimated and reported at 0.1 m depth. On average, an eroded plot lost around 277 m³ of soil. In total, around 415 tonnes of soil had been displaced from all measured eroded sites. Using digital layers orthorectified from aerial photographs, it was estimated that Pakuratahi catchment has erosion scars covering around 12 hectares of a total area of 774 ha. Extrapolating the soil data from the plots to the catchment, it was estimated that 2385 t of the soil profile, 271 t of C, 20 t of N, and 3 t of P have been displaced from the slopes of Pakuratahi catchment in the last 100 years. Using a non-linear regression model the potential soil loss following an 80-year and a 100-year extreme rainfall event was predicted. Total soil loss in Pakuratahi catchment was estimated to be 2630 t and 7890 t for an 80-year and 100-year event, respectively. 
To gain perspective of the value of avoided erosion or erosion mitigation, at a regional scale in Hawke’s Bay, areas with terrain attributes comparable to those of Pakuratahi catchment were identified. The area currently under plantation forestry in such landscapes is around 65 km². The conservative estimate of soil loss on unforested land following an extreme rainfall event for this area is up to 1.69 x 10⁵ t. Based on the estimated soil loss calculated from Pakuratahi eroded sites, the value of afforestation of these potentially erodible soils is around NZ$288 per tonne of soil. Afforestation of erodible land provides a valuable ecosystem service through land stabilisation but this service is currently not recognised financially in New Zealand.

text: Assessing drivers of plantation forest productivity on eroded versus non-eroded soils on hilly and steep land in eastern North Island, New Zealand: From catchment to regional scale The impacts of soil erosion on forest productivity in a Pinus radiata plantation forest were assessed to determine the effects of key soil properties on tree volume. Fifteen plots on soils markedly eroded (truncated) by landsliding were established in a plantation forested atchment (Pakuratahi) comprising mainly hilly and steepland in a dominantly mudstone/sandstone terrain overlain in places with a mantle of pumiceous tephras in Hawke’s Bay, eastern North Island, New Zealand. Fifteen control plots were established on noneroded soils alongside the eroded soils on landslide scars for comparison. Soils within these eroded and non-eroded sites were analysed and associated trees were measured for height and volume. The analyses of 0.1 m of the soil profile within eroded sites, compared with those of non-eroded sites, revealed that soil properties in eroded sites had significantly lower values: total nitrogen (N) 52%, total carbon (C) 47%, total phosphorus (P) 43% and soil organic matter 36% (SOM) (at 99% confidence interval). The C:N ratio, soil pH, and mean soil depth in eroded plots were also significantly reduced (at 95% confidence interval). Trees on the eroded sites had 14% less volume compared with those growing in soils at the non-eroded sites. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between tree volume and total C, total N, and SOM at 99% confidence interval and total P at 95% confidence interval.
Total recoverable volume was less in trees from eroded plots. Log quality and value was assessed using Atlas Forecaster. High-quality pruned logs and large unpruned structural grade sawlogs returned smaller volumes from the eroded plots than from the non-eroded plots. Lower-grade sawlogs returned a higher volume in the eroded plots. Total recoverable volume for a 25-year rotation growing on eroded sites was valued at $68,494 (2013 value) - 9% less than the estimated value from the control plots ($75,989). Eroded plots yielded 16% less volume from high quality pruned logs which accounted for a reduction in revenue of around $4,000 per hectare at eroded sites. A reduction in total recoverable revenue was estimated at $7,500 per hectare on eroded sites.
Erosion scars were measured and the average soil loss was estimated and reported at 0.1 m depth. On average, an eroded plot lost around 277 m³ of soil. In total, around 415 tonnes of soil had been displaced from all measured eroded sites. Using digital layers orthorectified from aerial photographs, it was estimated that Pakuratahi catchment has erosion scars covering around 12 hectares of a total area of 774 ha. Extrapolating the soil data from the plots to the catchment, it was estimated that 2385 t of the soil profile, 271 t of C, 20 t of N, and 3 t of P have been displaced from the slopes of Pakuratahi catchment in the last 100 years. Using a non-linear regression model the potential soil loss following an 80-year and a 100-year extreme rainfall event was predicted. Total soil loss in Pakuratahi catchment was estimated to be 2630 t and 7890 t for an 80-year and 100-year event, respectively. 
To gain perspective of the value of avoided erosion or erosion mitigation, at a regional scale in Hawke’s Bay, areas with terrain attributes comparable to those of Pakuratahi catchment were identified. The area currently under plantation forestry in such landscapes is around 65 km². The conservative estimate of soil loss on unforested land following an extreme rainfall event for this area is up to 1.69 x 10⁵ t. Based on the estimated soil loss calculated from Pakuratahi eroded sites, the value of afforestation of these potentially erodible soils is around NZ$288 per tonne of soil. Afforestation of erodible land provides a valuable ecosystem service through land stabilisation but this service is currently not recognised financially in New Zealand.

year: 2013

title: Living at the cutting edge: Women's experiences of protection orders. Volume 1: The women's stories

authors: Robertson, Neville

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: This report examines the experiences of 43 Māori, Pakeha, Pasifika and other ethnic minority women who were victims of male partner violence, the impact of the violence on them and their children, and their experiences of the justice system when they reached out for protection. The objectives of the project were to:
a.identify and describe the experiences of a sample of women in obtaining protection orders, the impact of protection orders and the response to breaches of protection orders;
b.identify those aspects that are working well (that is, positive experiences of protection orders); and
c.identify areas for improvement including barriers that prevent women from applying for and obtaining protection orders.

text: Living at the cutting edge: Women's experiences of protection orders. Volume 1: The women's stories This report examines the experiences of 43 Māori, Pakeha, Pasifika and other ethnic minority women who were victims of male partner violence, the impact of the violence on them and their children, and their experiences of the justice system when they reached out for protection. The objectives of the project were to:
a.identify and describe the experiences of a sample of women in obtaining protection orders, the impact of protection orders and the response to breaches of protection orders;
b.identify those aspects that are working well (that is, positive experiences of protection orders); and
c.identify areas for improvement including barriers that prevent women from applying for and obtaining protection orders.

year: 2007-08-01

title: Enhancing well-being and social connectedness for Maori elders through a peer education (Tuakana-Teina) programme: A cross-sectional baseline study

authors: Oetzel, John G.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background: Māori kaumātua (elders) face stark health and social inequities compared to non-Māori New Zealanders. The tuakana-teina (older sibling-younger sibling) peer education programme is a strengths-based approach to enhance well-being and social connectedness. The purpose of this study is to present the baseline data from this programme and identify correlates of well-being outcomes.

Method: Participants included 128 kaumātua who completed a self-report survey about health-related quality of life, spirituality, social connection and loneliness, life satisfaction, cultural identity and connection, elder abuse, health service utilisation and demographics.

Findings: Multiple regression models illustrated the following correlates of outcomes: (a) self-rated health: needing more help with daily tasks (β = −0.36) and housing problems (β = –0.17); (b) health-related quality of life: needing more help with daily tasks (β = –0.31), housing problems (β = –0.21), and perceived autonomy (β = 0.19); (c) spiritual well-being: understanding of tikanga (cultural protocols) (β = 0.32) and perceived autonomy (β = 0.23); (d) life satisfaction: social support (β = 0.23), sense of purpose (β = 0.23), cultural identity (β = 0.24), trouble paying bills (β = –0.16), and housing problems (β = –0.16); (e) loneliness: elder abuse (β = 0.27), social support (β = –0.21), and missing pleasure of being with whānau (extended family) (β = 0.19).

Conclusions: Key correlates for outcomes centred on social support, housing problems, cultural connection and perceived autonomy. These correlates are largely addressed through the programme where tuakana/peer educators provide support and links to social and health services to teina/peer recipients in need. This study illustrates needs and challenges for kaumātua, whilst the larger programme represents a strengths-based and culturally-centred approach to address health issues related to ageing in an Indigenous population.

text: Enhancing well-being and social connectedness for Maori elders through a peer education (Tuakana-Teina) programme: A cross-sectional baseline study Background: Māori kaumātua (elders) face stark health and social inequities compared to non-Māori New Zealanders. The tuakana-teina (older sibling-younger sibling) peer education programme is a strengths-based approach to enhance well-being and social connectedness. The purpose of this study is to present the baseline data from this programme and identify correlates of well-being outcomes.

Method: Participants included 128 kaumātua who completed a self-report survey about health-related quality of life, spirituality, social connection and loneliness, life satisfaction, cultural identity and connection, elder abuse, health service utilisation and demographics.

Findings: Multiple regression models illustrated the following correlates of outcomes: (a) self-rated health: needing more help with daily tasks (β = −0.36) and housing problems (β = –0.17); (b) health-related quality of life: needing more help with daily tasks (β = –0.31), housing problems (β = –0.21), and perceived autonomy (β = 0.19); (c) spiritual well-being: understanding of tikanga (cultural protocols) (β = 0.32) and perceived autonomy (β = 0.23); (d) life satisfaction: social support (β = 0.23), sense of purpose (β = 0.23), cultural identity (β = 0.24), trouble paying bills (β = –0.16), and housing problems (β = –0.16); (e) loneliness: elder abuse (β = 0.27), social support (β = –0.21), and missing pleasure of being with whānau (extended family) (β = 0.19).

Conclusions: Key correlates for outcomes centred on social support, housing problems, cultural connection and perceived autonomy. These correlates are largely addressed through the programme where tuakana/peer educators provide support and links to social and health services to teina/peer recipients in need. This study illustrates needs and challenges for kaumātua, whilst the larger programme represents a strengths-based and culturally-centred approach to address health issues related to ageing in an Indigenous population.

year: 2021