Indigenous biodiversity

Information management

Robust biodiversity management relies on: good information collection, management and reporting to determine issues and priorities, set and review objectives, monitor changes from baseline conditions, manage natural areas, educate resource owners and users, and make informed decisions regarding use and development of natural resources. The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy states that “good accessible information, underpinned by a growing knowledge base and the capacity to take action, are vital precursors to achieving most actions in this Strategy”. As a result, two programmes were established by the Government in 2000.

1. The Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS) Programme aims to improve awareness of and access to existing information about terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. It includes an annual funding round. The programme is being led by the Department of Conservation.
2. The National Aquatic Biodiversity Information System (NABIS) aims to compile and provide, via an interactive web-based tool, access to existing information about the marine environment. The NABIS will also identify key biodiversity information and information gaps. This programme is being led by the Ministry of Fisheries in consultation with the Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation and regional councils.

The Dataversity website http://dataversity.org.nz/, funded through the TFBIS Programme, facilitates knowledge-sharing and collaboration to support biodata management in regional and territorial councils. It includes an online discussion group restricted to local government biodiversity data managers, links to data sets, council data development projects and a calendar of biodiversity data-related events. It has also a public discussion group through which government managers can be in touch with other authorities and members of the public.

There are several regional information and monitoring forums: Waikato Information Forum and Northland Monitoring Forum. The earliest forum was in the Waikato Region. This began in 1996 initially to bulk-purchase aerial images. It has since broadened its scope and its overall purpose is the sharing and integrating of monitoring information and reporting this. Its membership consists of representatives from Environment Waikato, the relevant territorial local authorities, Environment Bay of Plenty, the Waikato District Health Board and Ministry for the Environment.

Another information sharing mechanism is a broad-based partnership between research and management agencies, iwi groups, private landowners, communities and projects in relation to native biodiversity in a region. An example of this is the Waikato Biodiversity Forum. This is a voluntary organisation that operates independently of these management agencies through funding grants from district councils, Environment Waikato, the Department of Conservation and other funding organisations.

The Waikato Biodiversity Forum:

• has developed a multi-party biodiversity vision for the Waikato
• comments on regional and district policies
• assists less well resourced councils with advice and information
• provides a networking facility with a regular newsletter and website, events and annual conference
• has developed and maintains a database of community biodiversity initiatives
• has prepared a book on restoration priorities (http://www.waikatobiodiversity.org.nz/biodiversity_information)
• supports community groups involved in protecting biodiversity in the region
• seeks funding for projects.

Strengths of the Forum:

• it gives a voice to a wide range of agencies and individuals
•  it has an independent part-time employee who ensures the Forum continues to function.

Limitations: despite being an independent entity, it is usually necessary for one agency to take a lead role to ensure the Forum continues to function.

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