Impact 1.2
Celmisia discolour (John Hunt).
Frameworks are in place to ensure the most threatened ecosystems, habitats and species are managed to reduce the risk of decline in native biodiversity.
Landcare Research is a key source of specialist biodiversity information to support RMA decision processes. This year, staff were called on as expert witnesses or asked to provide evidence in regard to managing dryland biodiversity, and wetland conservation and management. Our open-access, comprehensive web pages on naturally uncommon ecosystems continued to be a source of information in RMA hearings.
We used our strong ecological and informatics capability to support a variety of environmental modelling and decision support systems. Modelling risk and potential outcomes from various management scenarios is a highly cost-effective way of developing goal-focused, best-practice biodiversity management strategies. These data provide the evidence base to support decision-making by the agencies with regulatory responsibility for biodiversity management and the private sector. We also provided support for NGOs such as the Sanctuaries of New Zealand national network and the Predator Free New Zealand initiative.
Key performance indicator 1.2a: Consents related to land use change under the Resource Management Act (RMA) are informed by a scientifically-based set of criteria that takes account of cumulative effects on habitat availability
Core-funded progress for 2014/15 is reported in the achievements table, particularly under:
Key performance indicator 1.2b: Management decisions by DOC, MPI and regional councils, aimed at reducing threats to species and habitats, are based on robust risk models that reflect best available knowledge about the efficacy, cost and acceptability of management strategies and tools.
Progress for 2014/15 is reported in the Core-funding achievements table, particularly under: