Appendix 5: Glossary

Acutely threatened species

Groups of organisms that face a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Defined by criteria that quantify total population, area of occupancy, fragmentation of populations, declines in total population and habitat area, and predicted declines due to existing threats.

At risk species

Groups of organisms that have either restricted ranges or small scattered sub-populations and do not meet the criteria of acutely threatened or chronically threatened. Although not currently in decline, these organisms could be rapidly depleted by a new threat.

Biogeographic region

An area that is defined according to patterns of ecological and physical characteristics in the seascape. A biogeographic region may cover hundreds or thousands of kilometers.

Biodiversity

The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.

Biodiversity Condition and Advice Funds

The funds are part of the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy. Their purpose is to enhance management of biodiversity on private land (outside public conservation lands and waters). This includes areas of native vegetation, wetlands, and the habitats of native fish, birds and other species.

The Biodiversity Advice Fund focuses on information and advice to land managers. It funds projects which inspire landholders or groups to better protect indigenous species on their land, such as workshops, field-days, and publications.

The Biodiversity Condition Fund aims to improve and maintain the condition of areas of indigenous vegetation, species and habitats. The fund seeks to broaden community effort in the management of indigenous biodiversity. Suitable projects may include fencing or pest control on private land.

Biosecurity

The exclusion, eradication or effective management of risks posed by pests and diseases to the economy, environment and human health. In its broadest sense biosecurity covers all activities - pre-border, border and post-border - aimed at managing the introduction of new species to New Zealand and managing their impacts once here.

Bycatch

Non-target species killed in the course of fishing activity, including protected species such as birds and marine mammals.

Capability

The appropriate combination of the people, resources, systems, organisational design, culture, leadership, and relationships necessary to deliver a specified level of performance in the pursuit of the organisation's objectives, now and in future.

Carbon credit

A carbon credit, or emission unit, is a unit that reflects a defined amount of greenhouse gas that is either extracted from the atmosphere or not emitted into the atmosphere as a result of a specific human activity. A credit is usually one metric tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions. Credits can be earned (and subsequently sold) through activities such as establishing new forests, where the process of photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and stores it as wood. Credits can be purchased to enable an emitter of greenhouse gases to meet its obligations (e.g. under a national emissions trading scheme). Kyoto compliant carbon credits meet the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol (see separate definition). Voluntary credits meet the standards set for the international voluntary carbon market.

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced as a result of a specified human activity, usually expressed in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents.

Carbon neutral

A product, service or event is carbon neutral when the net total of greenhouse gas emissions is zero. Carbon neutrality is achieved by calculating the total carbon emissions associated with a product, service or event, reducing the emissions where possible, and then offsetting the remaining emissions by either generating or purchasing carbon credits (see separate definition).

Carbon offset opportunities

Activities that an entity could undertake to generate or purchase carbon credits (see separate definition).

Carbon sink

A natural environment that absorbs and stores more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases. Forests and oceans are major carbon sinks.

Carbon stock

The quantity of carbon contained in a pool, eg in a terrestrial ecosystem there are five pools: above-ground live biomass, below-ground live-biomass, litter, coarse woody debris, and soil. Natural ecosystems - particularly indigenous forests - are the largest land cover carbon stocks in New Zealand.

Carbon storage

Carbon is stored as a result of the process of photosynthesis, whereby plants remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and convert it into carbon (largely in woody material) and oxygen.

Chronically threatened species

Groups of organisms which are facing extinction, but are buffered slightly by either a large total population, or a slow decline rate.

Coastal marine area

For the purpose of implementing the Marine Protected Areas Policy, the coastal marine area is the area from the shore to the limit of the territorial sea (12 nautical miles).

Concession

A lease, licence, permit or easement granted under Part IIIB of the Conservation Act 1987 to enable the carrying out of a trade, occupation or business on areas managed by the Department of Conservation. The holder of such a lease, licence, permit or easement is a concessionaire.

Conforming non-notified process

The conforming non-notified process is being developed by the Department to establish publicly available schedules detailing acceptable activities (consistent with conservation values) at specific locations. These schedules will be linked to statutory management plans to ensure there is a clear basis for decision-making. For an activity to be listed on the schedule, the Department will have already considered its potential effects in the specific location to ensure that conservation values are not at risk. This upfront assessment of effects gives greater certainty for operators proposing a specific activity at a specific location that their application will be approved, so long as they comply with the predetermined conditions. This approach also reduces the time and costs of processing applications for both the concessionaire and the Department.

Conservation board

Conservation boards are established under of the Conservation Act 1987, section 6L. The primary functions and powers of conservation boards are set out in the Conservation Act 1987, sections 6M and 6N, and the National Parks Act 1980, section 30.

Conservation management plan

A plan for the management of natural and historic resources and for recreation, tourism and other conservation purposes which implements a conservation management strategy and establishes objectives for integrated management within a place or places specified in a conservation management strategy (Conservation Act 1987, section 17E).

Conservation management strategy

A strategy which implements general policies and establishes objectives for the integrated management of natural and historic resources and for recreation, tourism and other conservation purposes. A conservation management strategy is reviewed every ten years (Conservation Act 1987, section 17D).

Conservation Services Programme

A programme of research into the effects, and mitigation of effects, of commercial fishing on protected species which is funded through conservation services levies set annually following consultation between the relevant government agencies and stakeholder groups according to the cost recovery rules established under the Fisheries Act. The programme provides observer coverage in selected fisheries, monitors the status of protected species known to be incidentally taken in fishing operations (protected species bycatch), and develops ways of mitigating the bycatch of species protected under the New Zealand Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 and the Wildlife Act 1953.

Covenant

A legal agreement between a landowner and a covenanting agency about how the natural values of a particular area will be protected (eg where fencing is needed and whether public access will be allowed). The landowner retains ownership and the covenant is registered against the title, usually in perpetuity.

Cultural and historic heritage

Any natural feature, land, water, archaeological or historic site, building or other structure, facility, object, event or tradition, or combination of these, which contributes to an understanding and appreciation of New Zealand's history and cultures.

Ecological integrity

Ecological integrity is the full potential of indigenous biotic (living organisms) and abiotic features (such as sunlight, temperature and wind patterns), and natural processes, functioning in sustainable communities, habitats and landscapes.

Ecosystem

A biological system comprising a community of living organisms and its associated non-living environment, interacting as an ecological unit.

Ecosystem services

A wide range of conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that are part of them, help sustain and fulfil human life. Examples are forest-clad catchments reducing flood risk and providing clean water supplies.

Emissions reduction plan

A plan to reduce an entity's greenhouse gas emissions.

Exclusive economic zone

The area of ocean from the outside edge of the territorial sea (which covers inland water, harbours, and the area out to 12 nautical miles from the coast) out to 200 nautical miles from the coast.

Field data collection devices

Electronic hand-held tools set up to collect standardised information in the field that can be directly downloaded into national databases.

Functional groups

Groups of species organised on the basis of common traits, so as to analyse issues related to those traits. For instance, plants might be grouped together on the basis of palatability in order to study the browsing impacts of possums.

Historic and cultural heritage

Any natural feature, land, water, archaeological or historic site, building or other structure, facility, object, event or tradition, or combination of these, which contributes to an understanding and appreciation of New Zealand's history and cultures.

Indigenous

Occurring naturally in New Zealand, including self-introduced species, but not human-introduced or human-assisted ones.

Intermediate outcomes

The impacts, or intended changes in state, to be made by the Department's interventions. The logic is that achievement of the seven intermediate outcomes will achieve the overall outcome.

Kaitiakitanga

The exercise of guardianship by the tangata whenua of an area in accordance with tikanga (Māori custom, obligations and conditions). In relation to a resource this includes the ethic of stewardship based upon the nature of the resource itself.

Kawenata

Māori landowners can protect their indigenous ecosystems under Ngā Whenua Rāhui kawenata. A kawaneta agreement is sensitive to Māori values in terms of spirituality and tikanga. Cultural use of these natural areas is blended with the acceptance of public access within the agreements. The objective is long-term protection with inter-generational reviews of conditions.

The Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international agreement to address global warming and delay climate change.

Land Environments of New Zealand (LENZ) database

A database developed by Landcare Research and managed by the Ministry for the Environment. LENZ maps all of New Zealand's landmass into 20 different types of environment. It uses factors such as climate, landform, and soil properties that are known to be correlated to forest, shrub, and fern distribution. LENZ can therefore provide a good indication of what New Zealand's land-based ecosystems are, and where they are, along with the species that are likely to live there.

Marine protected area

An area of the marine environment set aside for the protection and maintenance of indigenous marine biodiversity at a level which meets the protection standard under the Marine Protected Areas: Classification, Protection Standards and Implementation Guidelines (Ministry of Fisheries and Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. 54p).

Marine Protected Areas Policy

The Government released this policy in 2006 as part of a wider strategy to effectively conserve New Zealand's biodiversity. The policy's objective 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."

Marine reserve

The highest form of marine protection, being a marine area legally constituted as a marine reserve by Order in Council adopted under the Marine Reserves Act 1971, section 4, and administered by the Department of Conservation.

Mātauranga Māori

Customary Māori knowledge. The Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund is a contestable fund supporting hapu/iwi initiatives to retain and promote traditional Māori knowledge and its use in biodiversity management. The fund is part of the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, and is administered through the Ngā Whenua Rāhui Committee.

Monthly operating review (MOR) system

The monthly operating review system (MOR) involves regular face-to-face meetings between a manager and his/her staff. It is used to review work progress towards achieving the business plan and to agree on any necessary actions.

Natural heritage

Includes indigenous species, habitats and ecosystems, geological and physiographical (physical geography) elements, features and systems.

Natural heritage management system (NHMS)

A system being developed by the Department of Conservation to create a nationally consistent, scientifically sound system of natural heritage management, enabling prioritisation, planning, and monitoring of achievement.

Nature Heritage Fund

A contestable Ministerial fund established in 1990 to help achieve the objectives of the Indigenous Forest Policy to protect indigenous ecosystems that represent the full range of natural diversity originally present in New Zealand landscape by providing incentives for voluntary conservation. In 1998, the scope of the fund was widened to include non-forest ecosystems.

New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement

The Resource Management Act 1991 requires that there shall at all times be a New Zealand Coastal Policy statement to guide local authorities in their day to day management of the coastal environment. The Minister of Conservation is responsible for preparing the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, which is to promote the sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of the coastal environment, including land, foreshore, seabed and coastal waters from the high tide mark to the 12 nautical mile limit. The existing New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement was issued in 1994. It has been reviewed and a proposed New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2008 was released for public consultation in March 2008.

New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA)

A national body of 13 appointed members established under the Conservation Act 1987, section 6A. Amongst other functions, it provides advice to the Minister of Conservation and the Director-General of Conservation, and is responsible for approving statements of general policy for national parks, conservation management strategies and plans, and national park management plans.

New Zealand Land Cover Database (LCDB)

A database managed by the Ministry for the Environment. It 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.

New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy (NZBS)

A national strategy approved by government in 2000 to provide an integrated response to New Zealand's declining indigenous biodiversity, prepared in part to meet a commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Ngā Whenua Rāhui

A contestable Ministerial fund that was established in 1991 to help achieve the objectives of the Indigenous Forest Policy. In 1998 the scope of the fund was widened to include non-forest ecosystems. The purpose is to protect indigenous ecosystems on Māori land that represent the full range of natural diversity originally present in the landscape by providing incentives for voluntary conservation. The fund, administered by the Ngā Whenua Rāhui Committee and serviced by the Department of Conservation, receives an annual allocation of funds from Government.

Outcome

In the context of the State Services' managing for outcomes framework, an outcome is the end product delivered by a combination of the Department's interventions and external factors. It describes a state or condition of society, the economy or the environment, including changes in those states or conditions. See also 'intermediate outcomes'.

Outcome-based Investment programmes (OBIs)

Multi-year research programmes funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. The outcomes and intermediate outcomes for these were developed in consultation with end-users, including the Department of Conservation. The research programmes are led by Crown Research Institutes and universities. The long term nature of these OBIs (8 to 12 years) recognises the long term nature of natural heritage research.

Outcome indicators

By measuring what is happening at a given moment, outcome and intermediate outcome indicators reveal the prevailing state of the environment at a particular point in time. Comparing the results over time shows trends that confirm whether management interventions are delivering the desired changes.

Outputs

Outputs (sometimes referred to as 'interventions') are the goods and services supplied by departments and other entities to external parties in order to make progress towards the outcome.

Personal performance in role (PPR) system

A system designed to create an environment where employees are supported to perform the work in their role to the required standard, including both their tasks and the behaviours expected. It involves the manager and employee setting expectations, assessing performance against those expectations, and identifying development opportunities.

Protected area network/ protected areas

Terrestrial, freshwater and marine areas that are protected primarily to conserve natural and/or historic heritage using a range of legal mechanisms that provide long term security of tenure, status or land use purpose, either privately or publicly owned.

Public conservation lands and waters

Lands and water areas administered by the Department of Conservation.

Regional coastal plans

These plans are prepared by regional councils and unitary authorities for the coastal marine area of a region. Their purpose is to assist these councils in achieving sustainable management of their coastal environment. The plans include objectives, policies, and rules that govern the activities the councils will allow, control or prohibit in the coastal environment. The plans are a tool used to manage any actual or potential effects from the use, development, or protection of the coastal marine area.

Restoration

For natural heritage: the active intervention and management of degraded habitats, ecosystems, landforms and landscapes in order to restore indigenous natural character, ecological and physical processes and their cultural and visual qualities.

For historic heritage: to return a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state.

Riverbed allocations

The allocation of Crown owned riverbed to the Department to be managed for conservation purposes subject to the Conservation Act 1987.

Species

A group of organisms which has evolved distinct common inheritable features and occupies a particular geographic range, and which is capable of interbreeding freely but not with members of other species.

Species optimisation project

A project being developed by the Department with the initial objective of securing the greatest number of threatened species from extinction - focusing on those species that are at greatest risk of loss, and on those that are unique to New Zealand.

Standard operating procedure

Procedures prepared by the Department to achieve consistency, agreed standards, clearly accountable actions, legal compliance and formally agreed best practice for activities undertaken by the Department.

Statement of National Priorities for Protecting Rare and Threatened Native Biodiversity on Private Land.

A statement of national priorities released by Ministers in 2007 to support and inform councils in exercising their biodiversity responsibilities under the Resource Management Act 1991, and to assist landowners, central government and others to play their part in protecting New Zealand's natural heritage. (Protecting our Places: Introducing the National Priorities for Protecting Rare and Threatened Native Biodiversity on Private Land, Ministry for the Environment and Department of Conservation, Wellington).

Strategy system

The strategy system is the collective term for the processes by which the Department develops strategic directions, implements them, monitors implementation, and revisits any part of the system to revise it, based on feedback. Part of the system is identifying the links between the strategy system and other systems in the Department (for example, the business management system, role description system and performance management), and part is working to ensure that the right links are in place, and that they are effective.

Sustainability

Sustainability is defined as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs' (the Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, 1987).

Sustainable procurement

A process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole of life basis in terms of generating benefits not only for the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment.

Taonga

Valued resources or prized possessions held by Māori, both material and non-material. It is a broad concept that includes tangible and intangible aspects of natural and historic resources of significance to Māori including wāhi tapu and intellectual property.

Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the science of organising living things into groups. The groups (taxa) form a hierarchy, i.e. domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, and, in some cases, subspecies.

Tenure review

Tenure review is a process negotiated between Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and those holders of Crown pastoral leases who wish to enter the process. The objectives of tenure review, as set out in the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1988, Part 2, Section 24 are:

• Ecologically-sustainable management of all land entering tenure review.
• Freeholding of productive land.
• Protection of high conservation values of other land, preferably by a return to full Crown ownership.
• Promoting public access to new conservation lands.

The Department of Conservation is principal adviser to Land Information New Zealand. The Department provides advice on the conservation values of lands entering tenure review, and recommends the type of protection these values should have; from covenants through to full Crown ownership/conservation management.

Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS)

This programme supports the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy (NZBS). It supports conservation of New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity by increasing awareness of, and access to, fundamental data and information about terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. It is a contestable fund administered by the Department of Conservation.

Threatened species

A species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. Threatened species have been further classified as 'acutely threatened', 'chronically threatened', and 'at risk'. Full definitions and qualifiers can be found in Molloy et al, 2002, Classifying Species According to Threat of Extinction, Department of Conservation Threatened Species Occasional Publication 22.