By Oscar Savage, Graduate Planner, Baseline Group Marlborough | Dec 15, 2021
Historically, New Zealand has seen the extensive loss of indigenous biodiversity associated with original land development practices to create farmland. However there is an increasing trend, and direction through legislation, to protect and enhance biodiversity values on farms.
Biodiversity on-farm is a win-win for farmers and also provides a significant environmental benefit. Agricultural systems on-farm function at their best when biodiversity is high. Planting a shelterbelt of mainly natives provides habitat for desired native fauna while providing stock cover, and protection for soils against erosion. Soils containing a healthy microbiome, with a diversity of insects and other fauna present will serve a pasture production better than the alternative of a uniform monoculture. Hardly surprising considering a teaspoon of healthy soil contains more living organisms than there are people on earth.
Protecting significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna is a matter of national importance under Section 6 of the Resource Management Act 1991. The further intention to protect indigenous biodiversity at a national level came in 2019 with the Draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS-IB). Previously, the protection of biodiversity has largely existed at a regional level through Regional and District Planning frameworks. The proposed NPS-IB actively involves Māori by including indigenous knowledge and recognising the role of tangata whenua as kaitiaki or guardians of the environment. The NPS-IB requires Regional Council’s to prepare Biodiversity Strategies in collaboration with tangata whenau and stakeholders. The purpose of these strategies is to promote a landscape-scale restoration and enhancement vision for the region’s indigenous biodiversity. This management must also be undertaken while building the resilience of biodiversity to climate change.
There has been a shift in farming practices and attitudes towards protecting and enhancing native biodiversity on-farm, including the retirement of marginal areas. The NPS-IB seeks to increase this on-farm management in an integrated manner. A new focus on integrated management could see an increase in both the sustainability of pastoral farming and indigenous biodiversity, while addressing one in isolation is not likely to result in a sustainable future for either. There is an emerging recognition that when empowered with trust, efficient incentivisation and resourcing, farmers are the best stewards of indigenous biodiversity on their land. With organisations, such as the QEII Trust, New Zealand Landcare Trust, and central government providing resources and funding under programs such as jobs for nature and the one billion trees program, the future for biodiversity is looking positive for both farmers and the wider community.
Articles you might be interested in
- Rural allotment sizes set to double in West Selwyn
- The importance of knowing your boundaries
- Planning land use to be resilient to natural hazards
- The Role of Planning in the Climate Change - Discussion for Agriculture
- Risks to farmland in the planning framework
- Boundary disputes – What are they and how can you resolve them?
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Game changers for housing under the RMA
- Selwyn District Council Changes Urban Allotment Sizes
- Housing Growth continues in Selwyn with Legislative Support
- Negotiating with Neighbours Under the RMA
- Is the RMA really the problem?
- Wild Weather and Resource Consent Requirements
- Who Shapes our Planning Rules?
- Planning Rules can Affect Property Value
- What does a professional planner do?
- Cross lease titles - an overview
- Spotlight on District Plan Provisions
- Rural Allotment Sizes set to Double
- What to do when you inherit land
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Minimum Car Parking Requirements to be Chopped
- Housing Intensification – Not for Everyone Says CCC
- Minimum car parking requirements to be chopped
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan - What next?
- Commercial Activity in a Rural Zone – What’s the Harm?
- Good District Plan provisions save time and money
- District Plan in Selwyn – How will it Affect You?
- Crunch Time For New Freshwater Legislation
- Why we have complicated septic tank disposal rules
- How might Development Contributions affect you?
- Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes - effect on farming
- Is it a Wetland or Not?
- The impact of consent notices when purchasing land
- Have your say on Development Projects
- How lizards might affect your new development
- Who Pays for Infrastructure in Greenfield Land Development?
- Managing Cultural Heritage Sites
- But that’s the way we have always done it!
- Buildings under exemptions may still need resource consent
- State highways, noise and reverse sensitivity: what’s the buzz?
- Fundamental Culture Shift in New Zealand Planning Legislation.
- The dream of subdividing your land
- RMA changes are coming, are you ready?
- Times' up on the RMA
- Hazardous activities, land contamination and resource consent applications
- A Practical Guide for District Plan Reviews
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan Update
- A recent Baseline Group project was recognised at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards
- Change isn't coming, it's here!