Tackling tree invasions together: A long-term approach to wilding conifers

Friday, 19 June 2026

Wilding conifers are one of New Zealand’s most pressing environmental challenges — and managing them for the long term will take more than cutting down trees. At the Bioeconomy Science Institute, the Viva la Resistance (VLR) research programme is focused on achieving lasting success by reducing reinvasion and building more resilient landscapes.

Listen to our partners and programme lead, Thomas Paul, discuss the wilding conifer problem and what we’re doing to address it.

A growing problem with widespread impact

Some of New Zealand’s wilding conifer challenges stem from well-intentioned decisions of the past.

Species like lodgepole pine, originally introduced for erosion control and wood production in high country environments, have since spread aggressively. Without effective management, the consequences are significant.

Over the next 25 to 30 years, wilding conifers could spread across large parts of the country, affecting up to a quarter of New Zealand’s land.

The impacts are wide-ranging:

Loss of productive land
Reduced hydroelectric generation
Threats to native species and ecosystems
Transformation of iconic New Zealand landscapes

These invasions also affect cultural heritage and whenua. At places like Mount Tarawera, wilding conifers have been spreading since the 1960s and 70s. Our partner in the VLR programme, Ruawahia 2B Trust, has worked tirelessly to manage the problem, but ongoing pressure highlights just how persistent and dynamic these invasions can be.

A collective challenge

Wilding conifers don’t respect boundaries — and neither can the response.

“The wilding conifer problem is something we either win together or lose together.”

If control efforts succeed in one area but fail in another, reinvasion pressure will continue to spread. This makes collaboration essential.

Researchers at the Bioeconomy Science Institute work closely with the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme and the Wilding Pine Network, sharing knowledge, aligning approaches, and contributing to continuous improvement.

This partnership approach ensures that:

Research is translated into real-world action
Control methods evolve as new knowledge emerges
Communities and organisations stay connected and informed

Thomas Paul with a wilding conifer seedling

From control to long-term resilience

Over the past decade, research has already delivered tangible improvements that are close to become implemented. For example, new spray technologies and formulations are predicted to reduce the cost of managing dense infestations by around 30%.

But stopping the spread is only the first step. Today, the focus is shifting to a more complex challenge:
How do we prevent reinvasion?

This means looking beyond tree removal to better land management practices, restoring and strengthening ecosystems, and increasing resilience to future invasions.

Science driving solutions

Addressing wilding conifers as an ecological problem requires collaboration across disciplines and borders.

The Viva la Resistance programme brings together expertise from:

Lincoln University
University of Canterbury
Australian National University
National Center for Atmospheric Research (USA)

Together, researchers are working to answer key questions about invasion dynamics, ecosystem recovery, and long-term resilience.

A shared goal

Ultimately, managing wilding conifers is not a challenge any single organisation, community, or sector can solve alone.

It requires:

Research and innovation
Strong partnerships
Coordinated action
Long-term investment

The goal of Viva la Resistance is clear: optimise wilding conifer management for the long term by minimising reinvasion and maximising resilience.

It’s a complex problem but with a collective approach, it’s one New Zealand can tackle together.