Background

This measure relates to indicator 1.6.1 – Ecosystem representation and protection status.

Human activity has reduced the condition and extent of many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s naturally uncommon ecosystems, and threats from invasive plant species, coastal development and projected sea-level rise are likely to increase in the future. Therefore, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research applied the IUCN’s Red List of Ecosystems criteria to identify which of these ecosystems are most threatened and in need of further protection.

4 of Aotearoa New Zealand’s 23 Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable ecosystems are currently under-protected.

What did we measure?

DOC and Manaaki Whenua have produced maps for 33 of Aotearoa New Zealand’s naturally uncommon ecosystems, 23 of which are threatened. Land tenure and protection status were examined using geographic information systems (GIS) analysis.

What did we find?

• 45 of the 71 described naturally uncommon ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand are currently threatened. Among these, 18 are classified as Critically Endangered (the highest level of threat), 17 as Endangered, and 10 as Vulnerable (Figure 1).
• 4 of the 23 Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable ecosystems that have been mapped have less than 20% of their total area on public conservation land or under some other type of formal protection (Figure 2).
• There has been an increase in protection for most naturally uncommon ecosystems between 2014 and 2024 (Figure 3).

Figures

Figure 1: Threat status of naturally uncommon ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Figure 2: Land tenure of Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable naturally uncommon ecosystems.

Figure 3: Changes in the proportions of Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable naturally uncommon ecosystems protected between 2014 and 2024.

Data quality

This measure is classified as a national indicator and complies with the data quality guidelines used in used in New Zealand’s Environmental Reporting Series.

The naturally uncommon ecosystems classification (Williams et al. (2007)) combines cliffs, scarps and tors into one class based on rock type. Due to mapping limitations, these are currently mapped as two classes.

Glossary of terms

Naturally uncommon ecosystems are defined as ecosystems with a total extent of < 0.5% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s total land area (268,680 km²). They may be small in area but geographically widespread or larger in area but geographically restricted.

Additional resources

Holdaway, R.J., Wiser, S.K., Williams, P.A., 2012. Status assessment of New Zealand’s naturally uncommon ecosystems. Conservation Biology 26, 619–629.

McGlone, M.S., McNutt, K., Richardson, S.J., Bellingham, P.J., Wright, E.F., 2020. Biodiversity monitoring, ecological integrity, and the design of the New Zealand biodiversity assessment framework. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 44, 3411.

Williams, P.A., Wiser, S., Clarkson, B., Stanley, M.C., 2007. New Zealand’s historically rare terrestrial ecosystems set in a physical and physiognomic framework. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 119–128.

Wiser, S.K., Buxton, R.P., Clarkson, B.R., Hoare, R.J., Holdaway, R.J., Richardson, S.J., Smale, M.C., West, C., Williams, P.A., others, 2013. New Zealand’s naturally uncommon ecosystems. Ecosystem services in New Zealand: conditions and trends. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln 49–61.