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Biodiversity information
For further information please contact the Policy Planning Technical Officer using our normal contact details. What is Biodiversity?The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy provides the following definition: Biological diversity, or “biodiversity” for short, describes the variety of all biological life – plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms - the genes they contain and the ecosystems on land or in water where they live. It is the diversity of life on earth (Department of Conservation and Ministry for the Environment, 2000). Go to topWhat is the problem?The 1997 New Zealand State of Environment Report identified the loss of New Zealand’s native biological diversity as our ‘most pervasive environmental issue’. There is no more irreversible environmental effect than extinction of a species, and extinction of some ecosystem types is just as irreversible. Following are some observations about the problem from the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy: New Zealand species have had 80 million years after splitting off from other continents to develop in isolation from the rest of the world, so that we have had, and to a lesser degree still have, some very unusual wildlife such as the world’s only flightless parrot, a bird with nostrils at the end of its beak (kiwi), frogs that hatch as adults from eggs, and a giant weta that fills the role that small rodents play in other countries. Both of our bats, all four of our frogs, all 60 reptiles, more than 90% of insects and marine molluscs, about 80% of our vascular plants, and a quarter of all our bird species are endemic (found nowhere else in the world). Great Britain split off from the main continent 10,000 years ago and has only two endemic species: one plant and one animal. As far as we know, in the last 700-800 years humans in New Zealand, and their accompanying pests, have made extinct: 32% of indigenous land and freshwater birds;
Today about 1000 of our known animal, plant, and fungi species are considered threatened and it is likely that many presently unknown species are also threatened. Many populations of these threatened species have disappeared from areas where they were once found. This pattern of local loss is the forerunner to species extinction. Much of this loss is due to habitat loss or degradation. Go to topCommon consented activities which can threaten biodiversityWe grant a lot of consents each year that can have adverse effects on biodiversity. Some examples of the main activities that we consent, which can pose a risk to biodiversity are Forestry operations, Roading projects (particularly in areas of indigenous vegetation), Subdivisions in sensitive areas, Earthworks near water bodies, Stormwater and wastewater discharges to surface water, Drainage near wetlands, Stopbanks on floodplains, Works and structures in small streams, Some discharges to land (fertilizer, wastewater, etc) particularly if near surface water, Large coastal structures, Activities in geothermal areas, Placement of fill etc. Go to topWhat is Action Bio-Community?Action Bio-Community is a New Zealand-wide project led by local government, in partnership with a number of central government agencies and non-government organisations. The project will help strengthen and coordinate biodiversity work across local government organisations, and enhance their efforts to support contributions at the community level. The project aims to build local capacity in biodiversity management – meaning that it will help people, communities and local government to build skills, knowledge, contacts and experience that can make a real difference in turning the tide of biodiversity loss. A series of pilot projects, workshops and collaborative projects are used as a way to learn about how to build local capacity in biodiversity management. The project provides a framework within which council staff can share experience across the sector, including developing more effective collaboration with other groups and agencies regionally and locally. Bio-Community onlineThe Action Bio-Community project is building capacity for biodiversity management in councils and communities across New Zealand. At http://www.biocommunity.org.nz you will find information about the latest developments in the project. The "Toolbox" part of this site contains resources, case-studies, key reference material and contacts. It will be continually growing and developing over the next year. The Toolbox resources are helping councils, communities and other agencies to "turn the tide of biodiversity loss". Go to topWhat are the implications for FNDC?The Far North District Council’s Revised Proposed District Plan, promotes the concept of voluntary protection of the district’s biodiversity, and to this end the Council has appointed an Conservation Fundrepresentative and an ecologist to work with landowners wishing to clear vegetation within the Rural Production Zone (rules apply in other zones and within Outstanding Landscapes within the Rural Production zone). The focus is on voluntary protection and minimizing the impacts on areas of significance such as wetlands, education/information and incentives such as funding assistance for fencing and pest management, and rate relief/postponement. This approach is very much in its early stages and is still being developed. This approach has been successful to date with, in most instances, landowners agreeing to voluntary protect more vegetation and habitat than is being cleared. The Council is using the PNA (Protected Natural Area) programme and information from resource consents as the basis for its Conservation Fund database. The information from the PNA programme has been reviewed by both DoC and by an independent consultancy firm (both pursuant to Council public consultation processes). The Council is continuing to update its Conservation Fund database. The Far North District Council has a small level of funding available for environmental enhancement, but is also working with other agencies and groups to maximize the opportunities for landowners to access financial and other forms of assistance. Go to the next paragraph for information on a recent FNDC Biodiversity workshop Go to topFNDC Biodiversity workshopOn December 4 a workshop was held for Councillors, senior managers and staff. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss issues that matter for FNDC and provide information on what is happening around the country. The workshop was facilitated by Glen Lauder and Sarah Wilson. They are Project Coordinators of “Action Bio-Community”, a New Zealand-wide biodiversity project run in partnership between central and local government (sponsored by MfE and LGNZ). The project helps councils work with their communities and other agencies to address biodiversity issues on private land. Key topics included:
Funding for Action Bio-Community was part of the government's Dec 2000 "Biodiversity on Private Land" package which followed the final “Bio-What?” report (the consultation document on the National Biodiversity Strategy). Find out more about the project including resources at http://www.biocommunity.org.nz Go to topWhere can I find out more information?Useful website links For further information please contact the Policy Planning Technical Officer using our normal contact details.
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