Where to, for New Zealand’s Biodiversity - eradicating predators or managing ecosystems?
In two science papers published in 2023, John and his co-authors took a fundamental look at how best to achieve New Zealand’s biodiversity goals.
First, they reviewed the history of browser and predator management in New Zealand to assess the likely outcomes of our current flagship biodiversity program (Predator Free 2050), which aims to nationally eradicate just four introduced predators. Their results highlight the considerable technical challenges, its limited benefits, and the need to also consider the impacts of other major biodiversity pressures including browsers and weeds.
The second paper uses modern spatial data and conservation planning tools to demonstrate how to implement an ecosystem-focused approach to biodiversity management, first proposed by New Zealand's Geoff Kelly in 1980. John's talk will explore various aspects of these two papers, arguing that the reducing availability of funds for conservation make it imperative that we adopt a systematic and coordinated approach to sustaining our biodiversity.
Supper and a chat afterwards.