Conservation Science Statement. The demise of New Zealand's freshwater flora and fauna: a forgotten treasure

Abstract

New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems support a diverse and unique array of endemic flora and fauna. However, the conservation of its freshwater biodiversity is often overlooked in comparison to terrestrial and marine environments, and is under increasing threat from agricultural intensification, urbanisation, climate change, invasive species, and water abstraction. New Zealand has some of the highest levels of threatened freshwater species in the world with, for example, up to 74% of native freshwater fish listed as endangered or at risk. Threatened species are often discounted in water policy and management that is predominantly focussed on balancing water quality and economic development rather than biodiversity. We identify six clear actions to redress the balance of protecting New Zealand’s freshwater biodiversity: 1. change legislation to adequately protect native and endemic fish species and invertebrates, including those harvested commercially and recreationally; 2. protect habitat critical to the survival of New Zealand’s rare and range-restricted fish, invertebrate and plant freshwater species; 3. include river habitat to protect ecosystem health in the National Objectives Framework for the National Policy Statement for freshwater; 4. establish monitoring and recovery plans for New Zealand’s threatened freshwater invertebrate fauna; 5. develop policy and best management practices for freshwater catchments in addition to lakes and rivers to also include wetlands, estuaries, and groundwater ecosystems; and 6. establish, improve, and maintain appropriately wide riparian zones that connect across entire water catchments. We have published these recommendations as a scientific statement prepared for the Oceania Section of the Society for Conservation Biology to facilitate communication of our thoughts to as wide an audience as possible (https://conbio.org/images/content_groups/Oceania/Scientific_Statement_1_.pdf, accessed 8 February 2016).

Troubled waters: Maori values and ethics for freshwater management and New Zealand's fresh water crisis

“…Approximately 3,400 km 2 are comprised of freshwater systems (Department of Conservation, 2000, cited Elston et al, 2015). This includes more than 4,000 lakes feeding into 425,000 km of rivers, as well as hundreds of streams and innumerable ponds all of which support a unique flora and fauna (Weeks et al, 2016). The importance of these wetlands and the many unique forms of biodiversity found in Aotearoa New Zealand 4 has led to the identification of six Ramsar wetland sites to date (Joy & Death, 2013).…”

Towards Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for the Australasian Region of Oceania

“…Countries in the region have iconic landscapes with unique flora and fauna. Interconnections among stressors from landscape development and urbanization across freshwater to marine gradients are widespread in this region (e.g., Mayer-Pinto et al 2015;Weeks et al 2016), where the vast majority of human populations reside within 50 km from the coast. Biodiversity hotspots are prevalent, as are freshwater and marine ecosystems (e.g., the Great Barrier Reef), which are susceptible to stress from anthropogenic activities, including climate change (Adams et al 2016).…”

“…Biodiversity hotspots are prevalent, as are freshwater and marine ecosystems (e.g., the Great Barrier Reef), which are susceptible to stress from anthropogenic activities, including climate change (Adams et al 2016). Interconnections among stressors from landscape development and urbanization across freshwater to marine gradients are widespread in this region (e.g., Mayer-Pinto et al 2015;Weeks et al 2016), where the vast majority of human populations reside within 50 km from the coast.…”

“…Climate change is significantly affecting the island nations of Oceania (Caritas 2018) and magnifying the importance of understanding how multiple physical and chemical stressors impact biodiversity and ecosystem services (Weeks et al 2016). However, information on the influences of natural and anthropogenic stressors, particularly chemical contaminants, is scarce for native species.…”

Notes from the field: the value of observational data and natural history

“…The cryptic nature of some species and the rapid pace of change also mean that some conservation issues may remain hidden, and documentation may lag behind impact. For example, up to 74% of New Zealand's freshwater fish fauna is at risk, however their plight is largely unrecognised (Weeks et al 2016). At the same time, new discoveries are still being made.…”