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Green Plans in Action: New Zealand: Challenges
Threatened Biodiversity
The two islands that form NZ have been isolated from other land masses for about 80 million years during which many unique and internationally important species of birds, plants, fish, insects, and other species have evolved. (More...#1) Included in their indigeneous biodiversity are kiwi (national bird), tui (type of wattle bird), inanga (whitebait fish), tusked weta (similar to a large grasshopper), and ti kouka (cabbage tree).
In January 2007 the Department of Conservation released updated figures on the number of threatened species. (More...#2)
Farming, forestry, and horticulture also depend on protection and management of biological systems. These industries are based on introduced species such as sheep, cattle, and apples. Maintaining genetic diversity of both indigenous and introduced species and protecting them from pests, weeds and diseases is an ongoing task requiring continual monitoring, technology development, and cooperation. The Threatened Species Trust Programme is a partnership between the Department of Conservation, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, NZ Conservation Authority and corporate sponsors. The Trust Programme was set up in 1990 to attract financial sponsorship to support recovery programs, habitat management and research directed towards NZ's threatened native plants and animals. NZ has produced a Biodiversity Strategy, but there is no formal implementation approach other than that of the DoC and the RMA. (More...#3)
Soil Erosion
The soils of NZ are constantly eroding due to a very wet climate and accelerated action from tectonic uplift of colliding continental plates. In addition, there have been stages of glaciation and large volcanic eruptions with natural cyclic events of colder climates and different sea levels affecting soils. As a result, geology is in a fine balance in NZ between what is natural and unavoidable, and what is controllable. High rainfall results in flooding inhibiting soil buildup and causing soils to remain in a very young, fertile state, high in organic matter and mixed with volcanic ash. Human influence has accelerated the erosion, including deforestation and introduction of grazing animals. (More...)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
NZ is unusual amongst developed nations in the amount of its greenhouse gas emissions that come from agriculture. Nearly half NZ's total emissions are produced by agriculture, predominantly methane from farm animals and nitrous oxide from soils and fertilizers. According to estimates in NZ's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2005, these agricultural emissions are 15% above 1990 levels. However, principal growth in their emissions comes from increased carbon dioxide (CO2), primarily from the energy sector, which has grown by almost 43% relative to its emissions in 1990 - most of the increase is from transport and electricity generation. About 2/3 of NZ's electricity production comes from hydro power stations, but with an increasing proportion of fossil fuel electricity generation, initially from Maui gas and increasingly from coal. This means that electricity sector emissions are growing at a rapid rate.
Transport emissions are expected to increase by 35% over the next 25 years with present policies and attitudes. Industry itself can play a leading role in promoting and using sustainable practices such as eco-efficiency and extended producer responsibility. The Ministry for the Environment has a major program focused on encouraging sustainable industry. Through voluntary agreements government is working with industry to reduce environmental impacts. NZ does not have an emission control requirement for vehicles, although in 2006 it introduced a visual "black smoke from exhaust" test by registered garage mechanics as part of the bi-annual vehicle exams required in order to obtain Warrant of Fitness stickers for windshields. Other measures designed to combat high carbon dioxide emissions include designing policies shifting towards a price on emissions, cleaner vehicles and fuels and an increased public pressure on high volume emitters.
Deforestation
When Europeans arrived 150 years ago, one third of original forest cover had been decimated by the Maori. Today, another one third of natural forests are gone, with 70,000 sq.km. of forests remaining. By the late 19th century urbanization became the chief cause of deforestation. From 1919 to 1987 the primary objective of the NZ Forestry Service was to produce and profitably market forestry products while taking into consideration environmental management and planting. Recognizing conflicts between these objectives, in 1987 a restructuring resulted in the Ministry of Forestry, responsible for planted forests, and the Department of Conservation responsible for indigenous forests as part of the Conservation Estate. As of 1991, all activities related to land use must comply with the RMA, and are applied to specific land use activities handled on a regional basis through District Councils. Effects like sedimentation and water quality issues are the responsibility of Regional Councils. Following the RMA, The Forests Act of 1949, was amended in 1993 bringing an end to unsustainable harvesting and clearcutting of indigenous forests. Today 63,000 sq.km. of native forest account for 23% of total land use in NZ, in comparison, plantation forests account for 7% of total land use. (More...) Aside from the threat of fire, the biggest challenges existing for indigenous forests now are introduced insects, animals, and weeds.
Aquaculture Industry Reform/Restrictions
In late 2004 the Aquaculture Reform Act (ARA) passed in response to the rapid expansion of marine farming. It creates a single process for aquaculture planning and consents through the RMA - every farmer now holds a resource consent for his or her farm. The ARA provides a final settlement of Maori aquaculture interests without risk of further treaty grievances and changed the 'first come, first served' basis for allocating aquaculture coastal space to introduction of a new regime for managing environmental effects of aquaculture. (More...)
Energy Supply
NZ has enjoyed some of the lowest power prices in the developed world with a current energy breakdown of approximately 60% hydro, 24% natural gas, 7% coal, 6% geothermal, 2% wind and 1% biomass. However, the huge Maui natural gas field off the coast of Taranaki is expected to be all but exhausted by 2010. (More...#1) With New Zealand's economy growing and an increasing demand for power supply, the nation's semi-private electricity industry must come to new decisions now, such as greater efficiency and a diversification of power sources with new base capacity closer to the North Island demand. Otherwise, they may be unable to avoid an energy supply "gap" that could disrupt their economy and way of life. (More...#2) In the meantime, NZ's total annual energy supply is projected to grow at 1.1% per annum between 2000 and 2025. NZ now has an Electricity Commission that oversees the semi-privatized electricity industry. (More...#3) The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is a crown entity reporting to the Ministry of Energy and the main body responsible for helping to deliver the Government's extensive energy efficiency agenda. (More...#4) So far, NZ has seen only very modest improvements in energy efficiency. Although renewable energy sources are growing at a rate to achieve the national renewable energy target for 2012, overall demand for energy keeps increasing, so the percentage coming from renewable sources is actually decreasing, mainly due to the rapid increase in the use of transport fuels. (More...#5) Another challenge to implementing renewable energy resources is the aesthetics of their appearance. (More...#6)
Water Contamination
There is strong evidence that surface runoff, groundwater aqueducts, rivers, and lakes are becoming nutrient enriched and degraded from nitrogen, animal fecal matter, and eroded sedimentation. The most significant legislation for managing impacts of farming on the environment is the RMA, with regional councils setting the context for development and providing framework for district plans. A recent regulatory trend in the farming sector is that large producer groups owned, controlled, and directed by shareholding farmers are playing an influential role through industry certification and standards programs, industry targets, supply contracts, and levies for services or research. In the short-term, across-the-board nutrient management plans and tools are needed to balance nutrient inputs with outputs causing environmental damage. The current government Water Programme for Action (More...) is beginning to address non-point source pollution of freshwater, while the Sustainable Farming Fund (More...) is offering government grants toward solving land sector based problems supporting more ecologically and economically efficient farming systems. (More...)
Invasive Species
While ongoing habitat loss is a serious problem, the biggest threat now is from introduced weeds and animal pests. The most damaging animal pests include possums (around 70 million), stoats, feral cats, rats, deer, and goats. The Department of Conservation wages an ongoing battle to keep pest numbers under control. There is a new program for exterminating the Australian possum from Conservation lands. (More...)
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