Biodiversity Te kanorau koiora

Nature-based solutions involve working with nature to address societal challenges, providing benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity.

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• The importance of biodiversity.

  Biodiversity refers to the wide variety of animal and plant life on Earth. Biodiversity creates healthy ecosystems, supports clean air and water, plant pollination, pest control, and much more. We are an integral part of the natural world, and the health of our biodiversity affects our health and wellbeing (social, cultural, and economic) and the environments within which we live.

  
  As well as having intrinsic value, well-functioning ecosystems provide a range of benefits such as provision of food, fresh water, fibres, wood and fuel. They regulate our environment through mitigating flood events, purifying our water, sequestering carbon and cooling temperatures. Well-functioning ecosystems also support our environment through nutrient cycling and soil formation, and they are integral to who we are whether it’s through mātauranga Māori or other spiritual, aesthetic, scientific, recreational or educational connections.

• The biodiversity crisis.

  Key drivers of biodiversity loss in Aotearoa New Zealand are climate change, introduced invasive species, changes in land use (e.g., clearing land and plantation forestry), direct harvesting of species, and pollution.

  Biodiversity loss across our district has been significant, particularly since European arrival. Less than 10% of indigenous vegetation cover remains across much of our urban and surrounding areas and there has been significant native vegetation loss in our riparian, wetland, and lakefront areas.

  Local government is responsible for controlling the effects of land use on indigenous biodiversity (terrestrial and aquatic) and for identifying and protecting areas of significant indigenous vegetation or significant habitat of indigenous fauna.

  This plan ensures we will integrate climate action, biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration into the way we do business, looking to nature for solutions.