One of New Zealand’s two main types of forest is a podocarp/broadleaf forest. Here is some basic information about this native forest and where you can find it.
For millions of year before people arrived the islands of New Zealand were covered in forest. Then over the past 750 years the amount of the country covered in forest has been reduced from 80% to about 23%. People have made a big impact in a short amount of time. The native forests of the past and today are two main kinds – Beech or Podocarp/Broadleaf.
What Are The Two Main Types Of Forest In New Zealand?
The native forests are either a beech forest or a podocarp – broadleaf forest. The other type of forest that can be found throughout the country is a plantation forest. This is a forest of introduced trees, such as radiata pine, that have been planted kind of like a crop.
There are about 6.4 million hectares of native forest in New Zealand. 2 million hectares is beech forest, about 2 million has some beech, and about 2 million is podocarp/broadleaf forest.
For comparison, plantation forests cover about 1.7 million hectares.
What Is A Podocarp Tree?
A podocarp is a type of conifer tree. These are trees that reproduce with cones rather than flowers.
The podocarps in New Zealand reproduce with cones, but they also have a fruit or berries to help spread their seeds.
Some of New Zealand’s towering podocarps include rimu, miro, kahikatea, and toatara.
What Is A Podocarp/Broadleaf Forest Like?
These forests are some of the most diverse of the native habitats in New Zealand. They have a huge range of species and are a combination of tall podocarp trees that tower over the forest with a variety of shorter broadleaf trees and tree ferns. Underneath those trees is an understory of shrubs, vines, and ferns.
Where Can You See A Podocarp/Broadleaf Forest?
Theses forest used to be found covering large swaths of the country. Now they can be seen scattered about in small patches across the north island, including around the central North island, Taranaki, Coromandel, the Northland, and on Stewart Island. They also are quite dominant on the west coast of the south island.