D1: Area of indigenous vegetation cover (in both urban and non-urban environments) is increasing

Why are we measuring this?

The biodiversity of Waitaha Canterbury contributes significantly to overall biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand, but there is ongoing loss and degradation of indigenous vegetation cover, largely driven by land development and use. Thousands of hectares of indigenous vegetation have been cleared over time, mostly for farming, transport infrastructure and urban development. Outside legally protected conservation areas, this loss and modification of indigenous vegetation cover means that the ecosystem health of remaining areas of indigenous vegetation has also declined due to habitat fragmentation and cross-boundary effects from developed land.

Under resource management laws, local authorities have a responsibility to maintain, restore, protect and enhance indigenous vegetation cover and habitats of indigenous species. Under the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity 2024 (NPSIB), this includes to maintain regionally indigenous vegetation cover in urban and non-urban environments.

How do we measure the result?

The national Landcover Database (LCDB) Series (5-yearly satellite imagery since 1996/97) is used to measure and report on changes in indigenous vegetation cover. Our method is consistent with the National Environmental Monitoring Standard Indigenous Cover and includes further subdivision of LCDB indigenous cover classes into their associated indigenous vegetation classes. These are:

• Matagouri or Grey scrub
• Mānuka and/or Kānuka
• Tall tussock grassland
• Fernland
• Indigenous forest
• Sub-alpine shrubland
• Broadleaved indigenous hardwoods
• Herbaceous freshwater vegetation
• Alpine grass/herbfield
• Flaxland
• Herbaceous saline vegetation.

The LCDB Series analysis over a ~25-year period (between 1996 and 2023) shows that indigenous vegetation cover continues to be lost. The greatest losses have occurred in remnant vegetation on glacial and alluvial outwash surfaces (such as those found in Te Manahuna/the Mackenzie Basin) where native cover has been replaced by high-producing grassland. In hill and high-country, areas of tussock grasslands have been converted to exotic forestry and pasture. Between 2018 and 2023, satellite imagery showed losses comprising the LCDB classes Manuka/Kanuka, Matagouri/Grey Scrub, Broadleaved indigenous hardwoods, and Tall tussock grassland. 

This same analysis shows that, under the right conditions, exotic land cover can revert to indigenous vegetation cover. For example, areas of gorse and broom can act as nurse cover helping broadleaved species regenerate - with Hinewai Reserve on Horomaka/Banks Peninsula standing out as a well-known success story. In some areas, both low and high-producing grasslands have shown potential to revert to grey scrub, mānuka/kānuka, and in some cases, broadleaved indigenous vegetation. However, this reversion is only possible where nearby indigenous vegetation can provide a seed source and there are favourable conditions such as wind, rain, temperature and soils. 

The LCDB Series helps us to measure and report on gains and losses of indigenous vegetation cover on a regional scale over time. As each subsequent ~5-yearly LCDB Series is published, we report on changes in indigenous vegetation cover in Waitaha Canterbury.  

Land Environments of New Zealand and indigenous vegetation cover

By combining our indigenous vegetation cover monitoring results with the Land Environments of New Zealand (LENZ) classification, we can also assess which indigenous vegetation cover and habitats of indigenous species represent what remains. LENZ is a national classification that identifies areas with similar environmental conditions which tend to support similar groups of indigenous ecosystems, even if habitats have been modified by human activity. LENZ can be used to address a range of land related issues including management of indigenous biodiversity, biosecurity risk, and optimisation of productive land uses. By using LENZ to report on indigenous vegetation cover and habitats of indigenous species in Waitaha Canterbury we can better understand where to target our biodiversity maintenance efforts. 

LENZ together with the area of indigenous vegetation cover in Waitaha Canterbury (LCDB v6, 2023) shows that some land environments have little to no indigenous vegetation cover remaining. It is important to know that different indigenous biodiversity (native plants and animals and their habitats) occurs in different areas across our region depending on their habitat needs – what is protected represents only a part of the full range of Waitaha Canterbury’s (and New Zealand’s) indigenous biodiversity. 

Monitoring under the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity 

As directed by the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB), every regional council needs to assess the percentage of indigenous vegetation cover in each of its non-urban and urban environments, including assessing this percentage compared to any targets set. Using LENZ together with LCDB v6, we can assess the area and proportion of indigenous vegetation cover in Waitaha Canterbury’s non-urban and urban environments. We use the definition of urban environment** from the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (2020) applied through the NPSIB. This monitoring helps us understand the extent and distribution of different types of indigenous vegetation cover and habitats of indigenous species that different land environments sustain, including outside public conservation lands.  

Achieving any targets set for non-urban and urban environments may mean restoring indigenous vegetation cover. The tool Navigator X for Waitaha Canterbury (incorporating LCDB v6) provides mapping information to guide decision-making about where best to reconstruct and restore indigenous vegetation cover and habitat. 

What work have we undertaken to contribute to this outcome?

Our approach  to protecting and maintaining indigenous vegetation cover (and indigenous habitats of indigenous fauna) focuses on addressing key threats. Common threats include introduced animal and pest plants, and continuing land use change and intensification. These threats continue to cause landscape-wide ecological degradation on indigenous habitats and biodiversity values.  

We work with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga and our communities, land managers, individuals and industry to ensure positive long-term environmental outcomes for biodiversity projects we support.  We work collaboratively and lead by example through our work in our regional parks and reserves. Every financial year, we publish a Yearly summary of our work that covers biodiversity projects completed over the previous financial year (or multiyear projects still being delivered) across Waitaha Canterbury. 

The Waitaha Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy, developed in partnership with mana whenua, and in collaboration with councils, agencies and community groups, sets a shared vision, goals and actions to guide biodiversity protection and restoration, ki uta ki tai - from the mountains to the sea.

Environmental regulation and protection is one of our core services. Through resource consenting, we sustainably manage and protect the natural environment, including indigenous vegetation where rules apply, by identifying and addressing risks before they escalate into incidents and cause damage. To ensure outcomes, we carry out targeted consent compliance monitoring across the region. 

Who else plays a role?

Managing indigenous biodiversity in Waitaha Canterbury is a shared responsibility:

• Environment Canterbury is responsible for managing indigenous biodiversity in wetlands, the coastal marine area, and freshwater ecosystems. We can also share responsibility with district and city councils where significant indigenous vegetation is identified in district plans or where vegetation clearance rules apply.
• Te Papa Atawhai / The Department of Conservation holds statutory responsibility for the management of indigenous species. The responsibility for the management of indigenous habitats (including indigenous vegetation) outside national parks and reserves sits with local authorities.
• Territorial authorities (including district councils and Christchurch City Council) manage terrestrial biodiversity and biodiversity values in artificial watercourses and drains. Their district plans regulate activities like earthworks and vegetation clearance that may affect indigenous biodiversity, including in natural inland wetlands.

How does this link to our Climate Action Plan?

This measure is directly linked to Action D in our Climate Action Plan Te Mahere Huringa Āhuarangi: Work with partners, communities, and key stakeholders in developing a connected network of indigenous, climate-resilient ecosystems across Canterbury from the mountains to the sea. This action aims to develop strategic approaches to establish connected indigenous ecosystem networks in the region, allowing biodiversity to thrive in the face of climate change and other threats, and delivering a range of other benefits including enhancing mahinga kai, flood resilience, and carbon sequestration. 

D1 aims to measure the result this action is working towards: the extent of indigenous vegetation cover across Waitaha Canterbury. Thousands of hectares of indigenous vegetation have been cleared over time, largely for farming, transport infrastructure and urban development, and this loss and fragmentation has reduced the ecosystem health of what remains. A connected network of climate-resilient indigenous ecosystems depends on maintaining and restoring this vegetation cover, so tracking its extent over time shows whether this work is building the resilient, connected landscape Action D is working towards. D1 helps show the difference Action D is making over time, using Landcover Database (LCDB) satellite imagery collected every five years since 1996/97. 

Find out more about our Climate Action Plan. 

Where can I find more information?

Read about what we’re doing to protect nature in your area.

Read about the issue of fragmentation of indigenous vegetation across the landscape of Waitaha Canterbury.

Our community projects and partnership programmes deliver environment-focused projects through education, collaboration and on-the-ground action.

Download the 2024/25 results for D1: Area of indigenous vegetation cover (in both urban and non-urban environments) is increasing (PDF file, 449.3KB)