Native Planting 101: Tips to Avoid Costly Mistakes (with Wayne O’Keefe)

What does it take to transform a planting project into a thriving, self-sustaining NZ native forest?

In short, it's a long-term commitment that goes far beyond the initial planting day: The secret to success isn't the day you put trees in the ground, it comes from everything that happens before and after.

In this episode of the People Helping Nature Podcast, we welcome Wayne O’Keefe back to share crucial insights and practical tips on the planning, planting and protection phases of reforestation, based on his 20+ years of experience.

Wayne explains why understanding your site's specific conditions and weed pressures is crucial before planting begins, and why selecting the right species in the right place with the right protection makes all the difference long-term.

“We've got to get away from this notion of planting once and walking away. We've got to find the ability and the resourcing to be involved with that site for potentially decades to come.”

So whether you're restoring coastal dunes, creating forest corridors or planting for numerous other reasons, this episode will provide key insights to improve your native planting outcomes and turn your project into a viable habitat.

Here are some of the key topics we discussed:

• Why proper planning is critical for your planting to succeed.
• The importance of understanding your site's unique conditions and identifying potential threats before planting.
• Essential next steps after planting your pioneer species to create conditions for forest succession.
• Why maintenance is the most overlooked yet crucial aspect of successful plantings.
• How to monitor whether your planting is on track to succeed.
• The main reasons why native tree plantings fail.
• Top tips for running volunteer planting days.
• And much more…

👩About Wayne:

Having moved to Aotearoa, NZ in 2001, Wayne quickly developed a passion for our unique biodiversity. Since starting his contracting business in 2002, he has been fortunate enough to work in the community conservation space, supporting and guiding conservation groups and landowners to achieve their conservation goals.

This has helped him to develop a broad understanding of coastal and forest ecology and the challenges we face in caring for them. He is a self-confessed native plant geek and has a particular interest in native forest establishment. Wayne has held roles with the QEII National Trust, Trees that Count, Tane’s Tree Trust, Bay Conservation Alliance, and Whakatāne Kiwi Trust.

🔗Learn more:

• Tane’s Tree Trust: www.tanestrees.org.nz
• Trees That Count: www.treesthatcount.co.nz

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org