Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust’s (HNHT) upcoming AGM will feature a speech by a Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research expert, offering insights into Central Otago's ancient landscape.

The event, which everyone is welcome to attend, will include a segment by Dr Matt McGlone who plans to speak for 45 minutes on ‘a vegetation history of the dry heart of New Zealand; Central Otago from the last ice age to the present’.

Matt said he would cover the long history of what's gone on - from 18,000 years ago to the present day, which would help us to understand what the future looks like.

His work includes analysing fossils from moa nests and coprolites (moa poo) from Central, including Earnscleugh and the Cromwell Gorge.

Matt said Central was a fascinating area and one of the most affected by human settlement.

“Central Otago was affected by fire 600 to 700 years ago. Māori burnt the area fairly substantially.

“It was podocarp, beech, totara, kanuka, toatoa, grey scrub and a few areas of low grassland . . . all the trees were obliterated.

“The birdlife we used to have would have been quite amazing . . . the intermediate vegetation was dominant over the eastern South Island.”

With modern techniques of fossil analysis, Matt will explain how science is getting closer to the truth of the past.

“Until recently, people thought waves of long tussock was the native vegetation of Central Otago. "

Matt will also talk about climate changes coming for Central and trends facing the district.

 “It will be warmer in summer, increased evaporation… . . . not as many southerlies or big fronts coming through. [A likelihood of] some very dry years.”

The AGM is on September 12 at 7pm in St Enoch's Church lounge and people need to RSVP online.

Find out more about the talk on The Central App's notices section.