Forest and scrub vegetation, East Branch Tokomairiro River

SUMMARY A small remnant of native forest and scrub located in the upper East Branch of the Tokomairiro River is described and assessed for ecological significance. Vegetation grades from pasture on rolling ridges through bracken, Himalayan honeysuckle, gorse and broom scrub on upper gully slopes, to a mosaic of forest types characterised by kanuka, common broadleaved species, or narrow-leaved lacebark, with a few remnant mature podocarps. The vegetation is typical of the Tokomairiro Ecological District and much of the rest of the Otago Coast Ecological Region. Because of past heavy logging, clearing and fire, and concentrated use by stock and feral goats, it is almost entirely secondary vegetation, with few mature podocarp trees, a canopy dominated by broadleaved trees, little understorey, and almost no regeneration of native species. Recovery to a near-natural forest structure and composition would depend on complete exclusion of browsing animals. At present it has low conservation and scientific values, but these would increase with the protection and recovery of the much larger area of surrounding similar vegetation.