Weeds, War, and reconceptualising nature in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Warning: This essay contains disturbing ecological forecasts and challenges to mainstream cultural attitudes towards weeds, our idea of nature, and the future management of native forests in Aotearoa, New Zealand. It will argue we need to dismantle popular but inadequate environmental dogmas, which will be galling to many. However – spoiler alert – it concludes, optimistically, that environmental weeds will ultimately force us to create more adequate conceptions of nature, and pragmatic management approaches. In short, it will be good for us, even if we hate this prospect at present. And no, the word hate is not too strong (I predict the strongest reactions will be from those who love native forests the most. And I sympathise completely). Let’s cut straight to the nub. There is an insurmountable environmental weed problem coming to rural New Zealand. It won’t be beaten by chemical or biological warfare, updating noxious pest plant lists, mobilising the unemployed, volunteers, high-tech drones, or by planting native trees. This apprehension is based on observations and decades of professional experience and has led to my premise that it’s a battle that can really only be won in our minds; we need a change of mindset. Environmental weeds will eventually force us to reconceptualise ‘nature’ in Aotearoa, New Zealand.