Forum Topic

  1. Manuka and high UMF clones

  2. 20/05/2016 9:35:50 a.m. Robyn Smith

    I am hugely concerned that large numbers of cloned manuka from just a few areas is being planted all over the country. The impact on natural manuka will be huge over time with the ability to genetically modify local manuka. Anyone else concerned about this?

  3. 21/05/2016 5:30:40 p.m. Mike Thorsen

    Yes, it does concern me as there appears to be genetic races of manuka and it will potentially blend with those. It is similar to what is happening with spreading various cultivars around the country. However there is no legal impediment to moving plants within NZ but they cannot be moved into a conservation area so not much can be done, especially since it is already being going on for nearly a decade

  4. 22/05/2016 2:55:35 p.m. Peter de Lange

    Yes MANY people and agencies are concerned Robyn. I spoke last week to Te Komiti-o-Nga Whenua Rahui about this very issue. Central to the problem is knowing exactly what diversity we have in kahikatoa (Leptospermum scoparium s.l.). To know that we need to modern taxonomic revision, and to achieve that goal is proving very difficult...I cannot say more.

  5. 22/05/2016 3:03:01 p.m. Mike Thorsen

    I see QEII are restricting planting of UMF clone in covenants. Good on them for that initiative

  6. 25/05/2016 10:34:02 a.m. Robyn Smith

    Ok thanks, glad it is being talked about. Obviously a difficult political beast.Perhaps we all need to be submitting to Regional Council plans on it and looking for resource consents to submit on too.

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