3.2 Natural heritage
Intermediate outcome 1: The ecological integrity of managed sites is maintained or restored
Intermediate outcome 2: The security of threatened species unique to New Zealand, and most at risk of extinction, is improved
Intermediate outcome 3: Examples of the full range of New Zealand's ecosystems are conserved
The aim is to, as far as possible, maintain or restore marine, terrestrial and freshwater sites on public conservation lands and waters to a healthy natural functioning condition. This condition is described as ecological integrity.
Restoring and maintaining ecological integrity on public conservation lands and waters is a key means to address the ongoing depletion of New Zealand's natural heritage. This is a long-term exercise. Sites on public conservation lands and waters provide security for these enduring efforts, along with opportunities to develop and apply knowledge which can then be applied more widely to the conservation efforts of others.
Natural heritage is preserved for its own sake and to help to maintain options for current and future New Zealanders. This work is part of the Department's contribution to the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, and delivers economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits as outlined above9.
Where feasible, the Department will encourage others to be involved.
Selecting optimum sites, and developing nationally consistent management and monitoring approaches, are critical to delivering this intermediate outcome. To that end the Department will continue to develop tools and systems to identify optimum sites for restoration, establish standard inventory and monitoring frameworks, and assess the effectiveness of conservation actions.
In terrestrial and freshwater environments, introduced animals and weeds are the key threats to the healthy functioning of ecosystems within legally protected areas.
Management activities can involve fencing; reinstating water levels; replanting; controlling predators, herbivores and weeds; and reintroducing native species to restore and maintain natural ecosystem processes. On degraded sites, intensive management is required over and above maintenance work to enable natural processes to become re-established.
In the marine environment, efforts will focus on ensuring the protected status of marine reserves is respected.
The Department will encourage and facilitate the involvement of others in restoring and maintaining natural heritage on public conservation lands and waters. Sharing knowledge, skills, information and resources with tangata whenua, local communities, and other interested groups will support this.
The Department's biosecurity work also contributes to this outcome. The aim is to help prevent the entry and/or establishment of new organisms that pose a threat to New Zealand's native biodiversity, and to reduce the unwanted damage caused by harmful organisms that have established in New Zealand. This includes providing advice and information to Biosecurity New Zealand, within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which is responsible for the national biosecurity system.
In many cases, the goals for ecological integrity and species-led work (intermediate outcome 2) can be met at the same sites.
The outputs through which the Department works towards the achievement of this intermediate outcome are set out in the Figure 1 in section 3.1.
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The Department is developing measures for ecological integrity. In the interim, success will be measured by monitoring the following indicators.
Tracking changes in indigenous vegetation cover on conservation land by environment type
This indicator uses the New Zealand Land Cover Database (LCDB), which is managed by the Ministry for the Environment. The database translates satellite images into information on the different types of vegetation that exist across the whole of New Zealand. Changes in the images can be used, over time, to monitor and report on the changes to the state of New Zealand's environment.
The baseline for this indicator was developed and first reported on in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2006. During 2006-2007, the Ministry for the Environment began the process to update the LCDB (its third update) and expects to complete this in 2008. This projected completion date will support an update report on this indicator in the Annual Report to 30 June 2009.
Tracking changes in the size-class structure of selected indigenous dominants in particular places within forests on conservation land
Indigenous dominants are naturally occurring species that are dominant in a particular area. Joint development with Landcare Research has provided two alternative approaches to this indicator, which measures trends in the make-up of forests (their structure and composition) that have the potential to show the influence of pest species. For example, pests that browse on leaves can reduce the density of the particular trees they prefer, or even wipe them out of an area altogether.
The two approaches are:
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Size-class structure - This measures the distribution of tree species in a forest according to their size and age. The assumption is that when there is a natural balance between new seedlings germinating and old trees dying, the normal processes in the forest will maintain the forest ecosystem's integrity. If pest species are having an impact by browsing on the vegetation this may show up in the trees having a non-natural size distribution.
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Representation of specific species or functional groups - This assumes that species with similar traits and life histories will have a common response to factors (such as climate change, or browsing by deer or possums). Therefore, it follows that threats which have an impact on these 'representative' species or functional groups will have similar consequences for other species, and will therefore affect the maintenance of the forest ecosystem's integrity.
In 2006-2007, the Department began to develop an optimal sampling strategy for these two indicators and three others: distribution and abundance of exotic weeds considered a threat; distribution and abundance of pests considered a threat; and demography (population characteristics) of widespread animal species in addition to deer and possums. Improved interpretation of these and several other indicators is being supported by a three-year programme of work funded by the Cross-Departmental Research Pool. This is due for completion in 2008-2009.
The next report on the indicator is due in 2010-2011.
In the marine environment, the Department will evaluate its success by the following indicator.
Monitoring the status of, and trends in the condition of, the marine reserves managed by the Department
This indicator is part of an ongoing programme of monitoring marine reserves. It is being further developed to improve national consistency. Reports will be produced each year on selected aspects of the reserves, with the first report due in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2009.
In the biosecurity area, the Department will evaluate its success by monitoring the following indicator.
Increase in biosecurity and/or pest management responses by Biosecurity New Zealand to incursions and/or pests adversely affecting conservation values, as a direct response to the Department's biosecurity advice and advocacy
This indicator was reported for the first time in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2006. It is reported every year.
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The aim is to secure threatened native species from extinction - those that are either rapidly declining or have extremely small populations. Priority will be given to species that are found only in New Zealand, and/or that are taxonomically unique. 'Security' is distinct from 'recovery' - the first step is to ensure that at least one population of each priority species is securely protected. Security, once achieved, means options remain open to restore threatened species at further sites in their former range.
Securing the most at risk New Zealand species is part of the Department's contribution to the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy. Species are preserved for their own sake, for their role in indigenous ecosystems, and to help to maintain options for current and future New Zealanders. This work delivers economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits as outlined above11.
Where feasible, the Department will support others' involvement.
The Department will increasingly focus on achieving security of the greatest number of unique species that have the shortest time to extinction. This approach is necessary given that there are over 2,000 indigenous species of plants, animals and other life-forms that are threatened with extinction12.
Work will continue on developing a tool to help maximise the number of species that can be secured. Factors included will be cost, urgency and chance of success. This is the species optimisation project. A further aspect of this work is reassessment of the threat classification of all species, subspecies and varieties that occur in New Zealand. This will be completed by mid 2010, based on the revised New Zealand threat classification manual13. Once the priority list of species has been determined, and prescriptions for securing each species prepared, these will be progressively implemented.
The Department will collaborate with others such as tangata whenua, local communities, and private landowners to secure priority threatened species, both on and off public conservation lands and waters. Collaboration occurs through a range of means, including helping landowners to legally protect their lands under covenants or kawenata, providing training, information, and assistance with equipment, operating shared pest management programmes, and administering funds that Government has established to support private conservation work14.
The Department continues to work with the fishing industry and the Ministry of Fisheries to avoid, remedy, or mitigate by-catch of protected marine species. The Department also works through the Conservation Services Programme to gather information about the adverse effects of commercial fishing on protected species. This information is used to inform the development of measures to mitigate those adverse effects. The programme is largely funded through a levy on the fishing industry.
In many cases, the goals for species and ecosystem conservation work (this intermediate outcome and intermediate outcome 1) can be met at the same sites.
The outputs through which the Department works towards the achievement of this intermediate outcome are set out in Figure 1 in section 3.1.
The degree to which the Department's actions to improve the security of priority species is successful will be demonstrated through the following monitoring.
Tracking changes in the number of extinct species or subspecies (both confirmed and assumed extinctions)
Tracking changes in the threat classification status of managed 'acutely threatened' and 'chronically threatened' species or subspecies
These indicators use the New Zealand Threat Classification System, a decision support tool that identifies the risk of a native species going extinct. The system applies equally to marine, terrestrial, and freshwater plants and animals. Three threat divisions exist to describe the risk of extinction: 'acutely threatened', 'chronically threatened', and 'at risk'. The threat classification system was first developed in 2001. Starting in July 2007, the Department has initiated a three-yearly cycle of review, where one taxonomic group will be reviewed at a time (for example, invertebrates, birds or freshwater fish), with all groups covered over a three-year cycle. Once all groups are reviewed a report will be produced to show the status across all groups at a point in time. This report is expected for the Annual Report to 30 June 2011. The three year cycle of review then commences again.
The second indicator tracks the movement of managed species from one threat classification to another based on increase or decrease in threat status (for example as a result of continuing pest or environmental pressure, successful management effort, or increased understanding from new information on the species). It was last reported in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2004. The next report is due in the Annual Report to 30 June 2008.
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The aim is to conserve a network of ecosystems that represent the full range of New Zealand's terrestrial and marine natural heritage. Effort is focused on examples of each ecosystem type not already adequately represented on public conservation lands and waters. This conserves a wide range of species and the natural systems that sustain them. Conserving ecosystems is achieved by legally protecting examples, and by supporting others in their efforts to manage the key threats and restore natural systems. This complements the work being undertaken on public conservation lands and waters in intermediate outcome 1.
Conserving examples of the range of ecosystems is a key means to address the ongoing depletion of New Zealand's natural heritage. This work is part of the Department's contribution to the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy. Ecosystems are preserved for the value of the life-forms they sustain and the value of the systems as a whole, and to help maintain options for current and future New Zealanders. Managing ecosystems will also deliver ecosystem services (such as flood protection, and water and soil quality protection), which are of economic, environmental, social and cultural benefit to the New Zealand public, and contribute to the Government themes as outlined above16.
The Department will work with and support the efforts of others to conserve ecosystems.
Ecosystems that are under-represented in the network of protected areas will have priority for protection. Their selection is guided by the Statement of National Priorities for Protecting Rare and Threatened Native Biodiversity on Private Land, site prioritisation data developed through the Department's Nature Heritage Management System (NHMS), the Marine Protected Areas Policy, and the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.
Site selection requires that marine, terrestrial and freshwater environments are described and classified according to their biological and physical elements. Work will continue in this area.
Activities include Crown purchases; establishment of covenants; and participating in processes under the Resource Management Act 1991. In the tenure review process in the South Island high country, the Department will continue to work with Land Information New Zealand to protect biodiversity values and develop a network of parks and reserves in the South Island high country.
The Department works with tangata whenua, landowners, and other organisations (such as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, and QEII National Trust), to help private landowners understand and manage the value of the natural heritage on their land, and provide support with legal protection where this is appropriate.
The Department and the Ministry for the Environment administer the contestable Biodiversity Condition and Advice Funds, which support conservation on private land through information, advice and assistance with improving and maintaining the condition of indigenous flora, fauna and ecosystems. The Department also administers the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS) programme to increase awareness of, and access to, information about terrestrial and freshwater life.
The Department provides administrative support to the independent Ngā Whenua Rāhui Committee. This is a ministerial committee that provides legal protection, and allocates funds, to conserve biodiversity values on Māori land. The committee also allocates funds to increase tangata whenua participation in managing biodiversity in ways consistent with mātauranga Māori (customary knowledge).
A further contribution is the Department's administrative support to the independent Nature Heritage Fund Committee, which allocates funds to conserve biodiversity on private land17.
In the marine environment, the Department will work with the Ministry of Fisheries to progress implementation of the Marine Protected Areas Policy, which was released in January 2006. The objective of the policy is to "protect marine biodiversity by establishing a network of Marine Protected Areas that is comprehensive and representative of New Zealand's marine habitats and ecosystems." Regional planning forums are being set up to plan and establish this network of protected areas in the coastal marine environment. The approach is designed to be inclusive and transparent. Government wants regional councils, marine users, tangata whenua and those with an interest in marine biodiversity to all be involved. Planning for protected areas in the deepwater marine environment (beyond the 12 nautical mile boundary of New Zealand's territorial sea) will start in 2013, and will be implemented at a national level.
The Department also works with the Ministry for the Environment, to ensure policies for protecting indigenous biodiversity from the effects of private land management are implemented, and to achieve the Government's goals for preserving the natural character of rivers, lakes, and wetlands. The two organisations are also working together to develop legislative options for an improved regulatory regime for environmental impacts in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The outputs through which the Department works towards the achievement of this intermediate outcome are set out in Figure 1 in section 3.1.
The degree to which the Department's actions to conserve ecosystems are successful will be demonstrated through the following monitoring.
Tracking trends in the percentage of the most at risk environment types (freshwater, and terrestrial) under legal protection from year to year
This indicator uses the Land Environments of New Zealand (LENZ) database
18. Monitoring is focused on
- Percentage of lowland forest areas in protection - This was reported for the first time in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2006, and is reported annually since.
- Percentage of wetland areas in protection - The first report is due in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2008.
Progress of regional planning forums to implement the Marine Protected Areas Policy to establish a network of Marine Protected Areas that is comprehensive and representative of New Zealand's marine habitats and ecosystems
This indicator tracks the progress of community based marine protection planning forums in accordance with the Marine Protected Areas: Classification, Protection Standards and Implementation Guidelines19 released by Ministers in February 2008. The forums are the key approach to planning for protection in the coastal marine environment, and are to be implemented independently in the 14 biogeographic regions that form the basis of protected area planning in the coastal marine environment. This indicator will be reported on in a three yearly cycle, reflecting the timescale of the regional planning forum process. The first report is due in the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2009.
8. The desired future state, and the work priorities and indicators of progress require reassessment for this intermediate outcome. The results of this reassessment will be reflected in the Statement of Intent 2009-2012.
9. See sections 2.1.1, and 2.2.3.
10. The desired future state, and the work priorities and indicators of progress require reassessment for this intermediate outcome. The results of this reassessment will be reflected in the Statement of Intent 2009-2012.
11. See sections 2.1.1, and 2.2.3.
12. Hitchmough, R.; Bull, L.; Cromarty, P. (compilers) 2007: New Zealand Threat Classification System lists - 2005, Department of Conservation, Wellington. 194 p.
13. Townsend, A.J.; de Lange, P.J.; Duffy, C.A.J.; Miskelly, C.M..; Molloy, J.; Norton, D.A. 2007: New Zealand Threat Classification System manual, Department of Conservation, Wellington. 35p.
14. The Biodiversity Condition and Advice Funds, the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS), and the Department's administrative support to Ngä Whenua Rähui Committee and the Nature Heritage Fund Committee. These funds are further discussed in relation intermediate outcome 3.
15. The desired future state, and the work priorities and indicators of progress require reassessment for this intermediate outcome. The results of this reassessment will be reflected in the Statement of Intent 2009-2012.
16. See sections 2.1.1, and 2.2.3.
17. The overall aim of the fund is to protect indigenous ecosystems that represent the full
range of natural diversity originally present in the New Zealand landscape, and it seeks to do this by providing incentives for voluntary conservation. As at 30 June 2007, the fund had, since 1990, protected 257,770 hectares of indigenous ecosystem through legal and physical protection (eg direct purchase, or covenanting).
18. The LENZ database is described in section 2.2.3 in relation to indicators
for the outcome.
19. Ministry of Fisheries and Department of Conservation. 2008. Marine Protected Areas:
Classification, Protection Standard and Implementation Guidelines. Ministry of Fisheries and Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 54p.
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