Posted on 4-12-2003

Conservation Gains, Big Challenges Ahead

Pest control efforts by the Department of Conservation since 2000 have
slowed the decline in native species populations, says Conservation
Minister Chris Carter.

Mr Carter was commenting on a report released today by officials reviewing
the first three years of implementation of the Government's Biodiversity
Strategy 2000-2020. The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy Third Annual
Report 2002-2003 is the first annual report on the strategy to give early
indications on whether objectives are being met. "The department has slowed
down ongoing decline in indigenous biodiversity and is doing well at
specific sites under intensive management," Mr Carter said. "The report
suggests that more New Zealanders and government agencies will need to get
involved in conservation to help DOC in protecting native species
biodiversity."

The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy was launched in February 2000. It
addresses New Zealand's responsibilities under the Convention on Biological
Diversity, which it ratified in 1993. It is a 20-year programme with
$187million funding over the first five years. It seeks to halt the decline
in New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity. Around 80 per cent of native
forest cover and 90 per cent of wetlands have already been lost.

Coastal dunes now exist only as tiny remnants and all North Island rivers
and rivers on the eastern side of the South Island have modified
catchments. More than 500 New Zealand plant and animal species are
categorised as threatened (marine species not included) by the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature.