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 20-year period (between 1996 and 2018) 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glacial and alluvial outwash surfaces (such as those found in Te Manahuna/the Mackenzie Basin) where native cover has been replaced by high-producing grassland.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.
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. Once the next LCDB Series is published (LCDB6 2023/24), we will also report on indigenous vegetation cover in both urban and non-urban areas. This will help us understand the extent and distribution of different types of indigenous vegetation cover (habitats and ecosystems) across Waitaha Canterbury outside public conservation lands. We can assess if any habitats and ecosystems are rare or represent little of what remains.
Regional councils must also record areas used by highly mobile fauna (animals) specified in the NPSIB (e.g. threatened native birds), including to map and describe each area in the region. We use native bird survey data and indigenous vegetation cover information to do this. After the LCDB6 is published, we will report on areas used by highly mobile fauna and indigenous vegetation cover.
What work have we undertaken to contribute to this outcome?
Our approach to protecting and maintaining indigenous vegetation cover 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.
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
Achieving targets under the NPSIB, in some urban and non-urban environments, may mean putting indigenous vegetation cover back. A new tool Navigator X for Waitaha / Canterbury (incorporating LCDB results) provides mapping information to guide decision-making about where best to reconstruct indigenous vegetation cover and habitat from scratch, and restore indigenous vegetation habitats.
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.
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.
