There's no winners despite an arrest over an alleged mass poisoning of a block of trees in Southland

A man has been charged after allegedly poisoning more than 200 pine trees on council land in the town of Tuatapere.

After help from the public, police carried out searches and found the poison they believe was used.

Southland District Mayor Rob Scott says there's no positive outcome.

He says at the end of the day the community has lost an asset that cannot be instantaneously replaced.

The 54-year-old has been charged with Criminal Damage and will appear in Invercargill District Court later this month