29 November 2013

Vision For Better Biodiversity

The first biodiversity strategy for Hawke’s Bay came a step closer this week when the Biodiversity Strategy Steering Group agreed on a vision and objectives.

The strategy is a voluntary initiative aimed at providing a strong regional vision, objectives and coordination to improve the state of biodiversity in the region. The vision is ‘Hawke's Bay's biodiversity is enhanced, healthy and functioning’ and will guide the further development of the strategy.

A steering group made up of the region’s councils, sectors, agencies and other partners has a mandate to deliver the first Biodiversity Strategy for Hawke’s Bay which will be signed off this time next year.

"We have the potential for a 'step change' in working with our community and business partners towards delivering better biodiversity outcomes for Hawke's Bay," says Biodiversity Strategy chair, HBRC Land Services Manager, Campbell Leckie.

“True success for our region will require us to balance the protection of high biodiversity values at specific sites with having landscape scale pest management and restoration projects that deliver both economic and environmental wins across our largely agricultural landscape.”

Mr Leckie says that a good example of the landscape scale operation is the first stage of a pest management trial across rural farmland covering possums, feral cats, stoats and ferrets, which HBRC will start next year. “This is a joint initiative which alone could make a big difference to the number of native birds, lizards and the regenerative state of habitats, and also bring some potentially significant economic benefits."

The Steering Group also heard from Te Roopu Kaitiaki o Te Wai Maori representative, Des Ratima, on the core Maori values that could be incorporated in the Biodiversity Strategy.

"The values identified aren't unique but understanding and using Maori cultural values means that over time they become the norm, much in the way kia ora is used so naturally in every day communication," says Mr Ratima.

"Values such as wairua, tiaki, manaaki, awhi, aroha and mauri should be applied through any policy or strategy documents and will become better understood through this process.”

The Strategy is guided by five themes - native species, native habitats, Maori values, partnerships and community. It will rely on the commitment from all willing partners to improve the region’s biodiversity state.

The Biodiversity Strategy Steering Group includes a core working group that is focused on establishing funding, progressing a Biodiversity Accord for the region and organising a regional Biodiversity Forum for 2014.

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