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Lowland forests extend from the coastal forests to around 500m (above sea level) in the
North Island, and 300m in the South Island.
Lowland forests have
high conservation value because their soils and climates support a high diversity of
native animals and plants (fauna and flora).
Most of New
Zealand’s lowland forests were cleared for farming when people arrived in New
Zealand. The loss of lowland forest causes native plants and animals to become extinct. It
is important to protect the remaining lowland forest from logging and development. |
Lowland forests can be found in some parts
of the Central North Island, Taranaki, Coromandel, Northland and in Southland. The largest
lowland forest is on the West Coast of the South Island.
Temperature and
rainfall changes what grows in lowland forests around New Zealand, for example, in the far
north kauri and kumarahou are found in lowland forests because they need warmer climates,
whereas beech trees can be found in lowland forests with colder climates.
There are two main
types of lowland forests in New Zealand – podocarp/broadleaf and beech... |
Podocarp/Broadleaf forests have a wide variety of plants
growing in them, and the forests have distinct layers...
Podocarp (podo=foot,
carp=seed) trees are like conifers. They are more primitive than broadleaf trees. Examples
are some of New Zealand's tallest trees - rimu, totora, kahikatea, miro and matai.
Broadleaf trees are
the trees that aren't beech, podocarp or conifer (kauri). They are more advanced, with
complex flowers. Some examples are rata, tawa and rewarewa. |
There are many different plants in New Zealand’s
podocarp/broadleaf forests. The plant species found in broadleaf forests vary, as you
travel from north to south the number of species decreases. Trees reach their southern
limits, which means they stop growing because of the colder climate. But different species
will be found, as they like the colder climate.
New Zealand’s
podocarp/broadleaf forest has some similarities with tropical rainforests, they both have
many hanging vines and perching plants and they both have dense layering. |
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Podocarp/broadleaf forests can be
broken up into five layers… |
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Emergent Trees – These trees are over 30 metres tall and
tower above the forest; rimu, kahikatea, totara, rata, matai and miro.
Canopy/Roof – The
flowering trees of this layer grow to around 20 metres tall. They make a dense layer of
foliage that filters rain and sunlight for the plants below. Some examples are tawa,
taraire and beech.
Sub-canopy – Tree
ferns, nikau palms, mahoe, wineberry and fuchsias can be found in this layer. They can
grow to around 10 metres.
Small Trees/Shrubs
– This layer is shaded by the trees above, they are no taller than 5 metres. Many of
the trees in this layer are young, they are waiting for a gap to open above so they can
grow tall.
Forest Floor –
It’s wet and dark down here. There are mostly mosses and ferns in this layer. |
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Beech forests are mostly made up with
beech trees, of which there are five native species; red, silver, black, hard and
mountain. There are large beech forests in the South Island, and in some higher parts of
the North Island, like in Tongariro National Park.
Their canopy is
made up with one or more species of beech, there are not many vines and there is much less
undergrowth. |
The beech forests are the largest original
native forests remaining in New Zealand. They survived being burnt or cut down mainly
because the land they grow on is often steep and mountainous and is not good for farming
and agriculture. |
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