Kotahi Ecosystems & Biodiversity

What we know about ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity in our region

What the science is telling us

Our science has identified the following issues in our region:

• Loss of native vegetation as forests are cleared for pasture or plantation forestry, wetland drainage, uncontrolled grazing, engineering of waterways, urban development, and reclamation of coastal margins – these have all adversely affected indigenous biodiversity – even in a modified state, many areas still provide important habitat values
• Damage, alteration and destruction of species and ecosystems from invasive, introduced plants and animals – effects can be made worse if other threats are present, such as a drought
• Estuaries have been heavily modified, reduced in size, and adversely affected by coastal development, introduced species, sediment and runoff from farms, and urban and industrial discharges where they are located near urban areas
• Increasing vulnerability to disease and climate change as biodiversity is lost – this reduces resilience and challenges the sustainability of life in all forms into the future
• The risk of loss of critical natural systems, such as pollination for food production, carbon storage for climate change and wetland filtering for contaminant management
• The risk of loss of taonga species
• The reduction of native species which are important sources of material for cultural purposes such as whakairo (carving), te raranga (weaving) and rongoa (medicine)
• The ability of tangata whenua to retain rangatiratanga over resources and taonga, exercise customary uses, fulfil kaitiaki roles and use Mātauranga Māori to guide biodiversity management
• Limited financial resources to support biodiversity initiatives across the region
• Knowledge gaps exist, including of marine habitats and species.

Kotahi & Ecosystems and Indigenous Biodiversity 

Through Kotahi we will need to meet any requirements introduced when the NPS-IB is finalised. A draft is expected from the Ministry for the Environment in 2022.

Your Feedback

The following infographic displays what the community has told us about this catchment in our first round of engagement.  For more information read the full Kotahi Community Engagement Report.