Protecting Aotearoa: The Vital Role of Business and Primary Sectors in Combatting Biodiversity Loss

Penny Nelson - Director General , Department of Conservation

Twenty-five years ago, I lived on Kapiti Island when my husband was a DOC ranger there. The birdsong was absolutely incredible; kākā, hihi, kōkako and, at night, kiwi. I got a taste of what excellent conservation looks like and so it’s great now to be leading DOC and able to make that my everyday mission.

Our ecosystems and places are incredibly special and worth protecting. We are one of only four countries in the world with a significant braided river system. Our offshore islands are rich in biodiversity and the last refuges for some animals and rare plants.

We are a global hotspot for marine biodiversity with around 50% of our marine flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth.

Aotearoa’s economy depends on nature – from tourism to agriculture, forestry and fisheries, infrastructure, property, energy, resources, sports and recreation.

I’m excited about the opportunity we have ahead, but I’m also worried we aren’t moving quickly enough.

Biodiversity decline is a global issue. Right now, our biodiversity is under pressure. Ecosystems are declining and nearly 4,000 native species are either at risk or threatened with extinction. For many more species we do not have enough data to make an assessment.

Our native forests are under strain. Animals like deer and goats – browsers - and predators such as rats, possums and stoats, are devastating our forests and killing off native species. Pests are killing indigenous birds and animals, destroying nesting sites, and depleting food sources.  

Not only are our species and ecosystems on the brink but climate change is making it worse. Our oceans are warming and becoming more acidic. I have seen for myself bleached sea sponges as far south as Fiordland. 

If we don’t do more, some of the really special things we have here will be lost forever.

But there is hope. Over the past decade I have seen a significant shift in how New Zealand is addressing the challenge of climate change.

I believe that shift happened because businesses grew a deeper understanding of how the climate would impact New Zealand and a dedicated group of leaders from across government and business had the foresight to champion change.

Nature really needs the same attention.

As part of my new role as Guardian for The Aotearoa Circle, I want to work with businesses so we are on track for net zero emissions and on track to be nature positive.

In December New Zealand signed up to a new set of goals to halt and reverse the loss of nature globally. New Zealand committed to the global target to protect 30% of our land and 30% of our waters by 2030. This is a bold global goal and it will require the same leadership from the private sector as we have seen for climate change, for New Zealand to achieve it.

New Zealand markets itself on a clean, green image – our environmental credentials underpin the success of our primary industries and it’s why most international tourists visit.

Nature also has the best solutions to some of our most pressing problems. Riparian planting helps keep our rivers and streams healthy and clean, trees reduce erosion, organic matter building up to create the best soils to grow food and animals on, or forestry helping mitigate climate emissions.  

With a string of weather systems causing havoc over the past few months, we need to look to nature to increase our resilience. We will need to design nature back into our cities, create space and understand the value we get from wetlands and forests.

I have no doubt that thinking about nature will eventually be hard-wired into business thinking throughout Aotearoa. We already have legislation making climate-related disclosures mandatory. I’m excited about working with the Aotearoa Circle on how we establish nature-based disclosures here next.

Partnerships will also be key. How can New Zealand leverage more investment in nature over time? What are the incentives we need to create?

Leaders within the Aotearoa Circle will be key in helping shape this for New Zealand.

And of course, the work done by the Department of Conservation will be critical too.

We’re one of only a handful of dedicated public service conservation departments in the world. Our job is to protect and care for unique species, places and heritage, and connect people with these treasures.

DOC manages a third of New Zealand’s land, 52 marine reserves and sanctuaries - from the Kermadec Islands in the north, the Chathams in the East, to the subantarctic archipelago in the south.

We are New Zealand’s largest provider of visitor activities, managing 13 national parks, around 950 huts and 300 campsites, and more than 15,000 heritage sites. We maintain more kilometres of track than there are state highways in New Zealand, and provide more toilets, picnic areas, huts and campsites than anyone else.

DOC is a global leader in conservation, particularly in fighting invasive species and creating island sanctuaries.  We’re keeping pest weeds at bay and suppressing predators and browsers that threaten our unique ecosystems. We know what we need to do, but we are only just holding the line and that’s why we need to work with others to ensure species on the brink don’t disappear altogether.

Business and primary sectors, including farmers and growers, play a key role alongside DOC to enhance our special wildlife and places. Community groups and individual landowners are also important. The health of the economy and the health of nature is not an “either or”. When nature is healthy, people and businesses thrive, and vice versa. 

DOC is already working with businesses on partnerships that enhance nature. One great example is the Living Water partnership between Fonterra and DOC.  We’re trialing tools, methods and approaches to enable farming, freshwater and healthy ecosystems to thrive side-by-side.

But it is through New Zealand’s biodiversity strategy – Te Mana o Te Taiao that we will have the biggest influence on how New Zealanders care for Papatūānuku.

Te Mana o Te Taiao sets out the strategic direction for biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand for the next 30 years.

It will take all New Zealanders to make a lasting difference and come together in a coordinated way. I’m excited about DOC’s role in helping to make that happen over the coming years and working with the Aotearoa Circle to accelerate that change.