New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge
Creating major and enduring benefits for New Zealand requires collaboration across science disciplines and organisations. So, when the Government decided to invest in a National Science Challenge as a ‘beyond business as usual’ approach to tackling the biological heritage issues that matter to all New Zealanders, we embraced the opportunity to shape its future.
The result is New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, or the BioHeritage Challenge as it is known – New Zealand’s first integrated science initiative to protect our biodiversity, improve biosecurity, and enhance the country’s resilience to harmful organisms. Some of the best and brightest researchers from 18 nation-wide partner organisations have taken up the challenge that encompasses virtually the whole of New Zealand – our terrestrial and freshwater environments, conservation land, farmland and other productive landscapes.
As official host of the BioHeritage Challenge, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research is proud to host the secretariat at our Lincoln head office. We are also delighted that Manaaki Whenua scientists have key roles within the Challenge. Dr Andrea Byrom was selected from an international field of applicants for the role of Challenge Director, while doctors Phil Lyver and Bevan Weir lead Challenge projects and Dr Duane Peltzer is a member of the Science Leadership Group.