Collaborative report a breakthrough for biodiversity
The Biodiversity Collaborative Group has published a report including a draft National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity and further recommendations to help indigenous biodiversity thrive.
The Biodiversity Collaborative group’s core members (Federated Farmers, Forest & Bird, Forest Owners Association, Environmental Defence Society, the Iwi Chairs Forum, and representatives from infrastructure) have worked together for 18 months, supported by active observers from central and local government.
Despite the diversity of interests represented on the collaborative group, there is a large amount of agreement in the report. A key recommendation is that councils are directed to map Significant Natural Areas in their plans (with an associated recommendation that government help resource small councils to achieve this).
If the group’s recommendations are progressed, councils will also be required to work with tangata whenua, landowners, and the wider community to set a regional vision for biodiversity enhancement, and have targets and a strategy to achieve that vision.