Comvita Develops a Sustainable Manuka Planting Programme

You would have had to be living ‘under a rock’ for the past few years to be unaware of the enormous significance and popularity of Manuka honey, and New Zealand’s reputation in this field around the world, in particular, that of Comvita honey. We have also recently become aware of the importance of our previously humbly conceived Manuka tree and its trending status as the source of our famous honey.

To this end, Comvita has been working for some time, on partnerships with New Zealand landowners, including iwi, to plant marginal land areas with Manuka trees. Manuka plantings are ideal for these areas and provide landowners with additional revenue from honey and pollination.  Comvita has a strong plan, developed partnerships, a dedicated team, active engagement with landowners and the purchase of their own land for planting.

The development of Manuka nurseries, planting of Manuka and the future beekeeping operations in these areas not only restores marginal land, but the activities also create work in local communities.  The Comvita Manuka Planting Programme, while helping to restore marginal land, also helps to clean up waterways through riparian plantings and regenerates soil from erosion. Manuka sequesters carbon at the rate of eight tonnes per hectare within a plantation.

Manuka is regarded as a pioneer native, and has long been known as a valuable nursery plant for regenerating native forest, which is also a long term goal of the programme.  Working on the Manuka Planting Programme since 2004, Comvita has a commitment to plant 11,500 hectares by 2021. Comvita are deservedly proud of the continuing progress that has resulted in 1,000 hectares of Manuka already planted, and 800,000 seedlings currently being planted in the North Island over the 2016 winter. Comvita has invested in this programme and are working hard to achieve the goal of 11,500 hectares by 2021. This programme not only helps Comvita secure honey supply, it also provides a positive environmental impact and they are one hundred percent committed to its success.

To find out more about Comvita and their honey products and their Manuka development programme, please visit the website at http://www.comvita.co.nz .