Tree Week promotes Auckland's urban foliage

There are thousands of protected trees in the Auckland region, and The Tree Council hopes to continue to protect and promote the value of these trees with Tree Week launching 4 October and running until 11 October.

"We want to help people recognise the special role that trees play in our urban environment and the services they provide to our city with some fun and informative events," said Tree Council Chair Sean Freeman.

Some residents may be unaware of the significance or protection of the trees on their properties. In September the blanket protection law under the Resource Management Act was removed, leaving many trees unprotected.

Yet more than 6000 trees are still covered by Auckland Council's Schedule of Notable Trees. Protected trees include those valued for their historical significance, age, cultural or ecological value. For example, the coastal Pohutukawa preserves the ecosystem around it by preventing erosion, and Cornwall Park in Epsom contains trees that are over 130 years old.

The council still warns landowners to "check before you chop", as there are limits on trimming and restrictions on removal.

A study published in June by researchers at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland found that the Auckland isthmus has six percent of urban forest left, and 63 percent of that is on private land. Only 15 percent of trees are protected through the Schedule.

"The Schedule is failing to adequately protect unique native tree species," said Research Fellow Dr Sarah Wyse. "We need to do much better if we are to protect what is left of the city's urban forest."

The Tree Week hopes to do just that. Activities of the week include "Auckland's Heritage Trees," a lecture held on Thursday 8 October at 7pm by Dr Mike Wilcox, author of "Auckland's Remarkable Urban Forest". The lecture is free and open to the public and will be held at the Fickling Center, corner of Mt Eden and Mt Albert Roads, Mt Roskill.

Following the lecture, on 10 October there will be a guided bus tour of Auckland's heritage trees led by Penny Cliffin, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the Unitec Institute of Technology with Dr Wilcox. The tour will cover the unique history and values of Auckland's historic trees, starting at Unitec at 9:20am and returning at 3pm.

The Tree Council, which is sponsoring the week, is a non-profit organisation formed in 1986 to protect, improve and conserve Auckland's tree cover, focusing on urban areas. The Council promotes programmes for the protection of native trees and management of non-native species, assist in curating educational programmes and assist others who care about trees, working with other councils and community groups.

For more information visit thetreecouncil.org.nz.