Great results have been achieved in the Nelson area, South Island New Zealand, with farmers co-operating to improve the environmental impacts caused by farming around the local rivers..
Sherry River in the Tasman district near Nelson is a 7800 hectares subcatchment in the upper reaches of the Motueka River, Forestry, dairy, sheep, beef and lifestyle farms surround it. The Farmers have been working with scientists to improve the river for a cleaner green environment with very good results.
In 2001 New Zealand Landcare Trust met with farmers, Council and Motueka Intergrated Catchment Management researchers to discuss the water quality and set up the Sherry River catchment group.The group found that 50% of the contamination came from river crossings the other 50% came from other sources, such as direct deposition into channels in unfenced pasture, run-off's from contributing areas during rain events and dairy farm discharges. The meeting in 2001 raised awareness that the intensification of farming in the valley was causing these problems and everyone agreed that they wanted to do something about it.
So now in 2007 the Tasman area, near Nelson had improved the water image of a clean green New Zealand image by 50%.The farmers have done it themselves, having been outstanding in their response to working with the council and setting a good example for a better outcome for the future of New Zealand environment to the world, by fencing pasture and planting riparian strips as made positive progress in 5 years. Farmers are to be congratulated becaucse this work is not making them money, it show's they really care about the environment.
The Otago Regional Council, South Island New Zealand are encouraging farmers to fence waterways with buffer zones to protect and improve water quality with good results, as 93-95% of waterway's are separated from stock with some form of fencing.
In Southland some 30 Deer Farmers now had to consider what to do with waterway's requirements to separate deer herds from the waterway's, some had already set aside "wallow" patches for the deers, which did not affect downstream waterway's.
Southland farmers are close to a solution to their waterway problems, it includes ongoing self monitoring of waterways and water quality and when stock are intensively grazed during winter on swedes for example, there will be a minimum three-metre fenced buffer along the waterways.
At less 84% of farms had waterways 100% fenced, the rest were 85% fenced,
Southland farmers have a very high rainfall yearly, they felt they needed a water plan specific to the province.
They did not want goverment to impose national water standards for Southland, based on areas with different water issues. Environment Southland is expected to release the decision on the submissions between May and June 2007
All stock wintering on green-feed near waterway's are required to build a fenced buffer zone to prevent run-off of fascal matter, nitrates and other contaminants, for New Zealands clean green image.
Are Kiwis Wasting Water Resources?
New Zealand need to embrace a proactive approach to water management.
A visiting Expert Professor Mike Young, who holds a research chair in water economics and management at Adelaide University believes that New Zealand must learn from the experience of other countries and excel in water management
The need to decide what rivers to be kept as conservation and heritage rivers and those to be managed as
"working rivers".
Check out My Blog it also has entries on water environment issues in New Zealand
Written by Elsie Hagley, Urenui .