Conservation Issues in New Zealand

Abstract

▪ Abstract Conservation in New Zealand is failing to halt an ongoing decline in biodiversity. Classical problems of ecosystem loss and fragmentation have largely been countered in some regions by reservation of 30% of total land area. Unsustainable harvesting of native biodiversity has stopped; indeed harvesting of terrestrial species is rare. In contrast, marine reserves do not cover even 1% of the managed area, and harvest of native species, some of it unsustainable, are a major industry. Introduced pests, especially mammals, are the overwhelming conservation problem. Legislation, management, and considerable public opinion is based on preservationist ideals that demand the sanctity of native land biodiversity. Considerable success in threatened species management, island eradications, and mainland control of pests is increasing opportunities for restoration. New legislation is increasingly built on concepts of sustainability and offers the opportunity for integrating conservation, use, and development. Realization of these opportunities requires greater understanding of the relative merits of preservation versus sustainability, the dynamics and costs of pest control, the need for ecosystem processes in addition to individual species, and the involvement of people, especially the rights of indigenous Maori. Understanding marine environments and linking attitudes to land and sea is also a challenge.

The role of ethics in the management of New Zealand's wild mammals

“…(1) Ecological protection Preservationist ideals have come to dominate New Zealand terrestrial biological conservation legislation (e.g., Conservation Act 1987) and practice (King 1996;Craig et al 2000). King (1996) notes that for committed preservationists (who she refers to as "idealists"), lands and biota free from human influence have the greatest conservation value.…”

“…Understandably, little tangible progress has been made towards comanagement of the conservation estate by iwi and the State (Craig et al 2000).…”

“…The aim of re-establishing pre-European biotic assemblages appears ill-defined and arbitrary given the constant flux revealed by historical ecology (with changes in many New Zealand vegetation types detectable in only a few tree generations (Craig et al 2000)). With a preservationist philosophy, there is also a risk that biodiversity protection can be taken to mean attempting the "fossilising" of species and habitats, turning them into isolation wards, "ecological theme parks" (Mabey 1993 cited in King 1996, p. 79) or "biodiversity museums" (Godlovitch 1989).…”

“…In contrast to the theoretical and practical difficulties now recognised to face preservationism, sustainable management conservation has been gaining increased recognition and acceptance through international conservation treaties and initiatives (Craig et al 2000). Sustainable management approaches to conservation are compatible with the values of "traditionalists" including both Maori and recreational hunters, and with scientifically-minded "pragmatists" including many conservation managers (King 1996).…”

“…Rather than require the absolute protection of all native species, and ruling out any economic activity on conservation lands, a sustainable management philosophy requires only that any such activities be truly ecologically sustainable (Craig et al 2000). Exotic species, such as the introduced mammals, are regarded of value in their own right insofar as they contribute to overall biodiversity.…”