The main risks to the permanence period and their mitigations are summarised below:

Risk: Herbivorous Pests

The project area is being fenced with a rabbit proof netting fence that is 600mm high with 300mm laid horizontal at the base to prevent burrowing. Livestock will be excluded from the project area. Regular fence inspection will occur as well as monitoring for any rabbit activity.

Trials over the last 6 years have not indicated any serious herbivorous pest problems for native vegetation species besides rabbits.

Risk: Fire

Preventative measures include the incorporation of regular fire breaks in the planting area. A comprehensive emergency fire plan will be in place. It will include two water locations within the planting area, each with 32,000L water tanks that are easily accessible. Plans of the planted area will be kept at entry points once trees are established. Fire plans will be communicated to the local fire brigade.

Risk: Drought

Activities in the initial project years includes watering of newly planted seedlings during their first summer to ensure that their root systems are well established. In case of a subsequently exceptionally dry year additional watering will be applied. Since native tree species are selected for planting, these will be drought tolerant once established.

Risk: Weeds and Seedling Mortality

Proposed weed and pest control will involve early spraying with a knock-down pesticide during the season break in April/May. A second round of spraying will occur along deep ripped soil lines two weeks prior to planting. Ongoing weed management will continue until forest cover is established. Trees will be monitored in regular intervals for weed and pest impacts and will trigger additional control measures as necessary.

After planting the seedlings will get a one-off fertiliser boost through the addition of a native tree fertiliser pill and a scoop of microbial soil improver. A 80-90% seedling survival rate is observed in deep ripped trial plantings without fertilising and therefore minimal infill planting is anticipated. If required, infill would take place 12 months after the plantings.