Ngāti Pikiao, Tainui
J D Reid LTD
John Reid
Eco-index
People in Aotearoa New Zealand value their unique natural environments, but national and regional reporting shows that our ecosystems and native biodiversity are degraded and continuing to decline.
Restoring native ecosystems that once cloaked the whenua has many benefits for society, nature, and business. The Eco-index team are providing tools and information to guide land managers in collectively accomplishing large-scale ecosystem restoration.
This research is Active
From left: Wendy Boyce, Saif Khan, Penny Payne, Kiri Joy Wallace, Rachelle Binny, Karen Denyer, Catherine Kirby, Olivia Stead, Monique Hall, John Reid, Corey Ruha, Jay Whitehead, Kevan Cote. Absent: Nathaniel Calhoun.
Overview Te Tirohanga Whānui
The Eco-index programme is developing fresh solutions to answer the important questions about reversing biodiversity decline in Aotearoa New Zealand with the goal of boosting efforts and coordination for protecting, restoring and connecting native ecosystems.
Questions such as:
- How much is being done to help conserve or restore biodiversity in Aotearoa NZ?
- Which biodiversity actions should be prioritised by land managers and catchment groups?
- What is the impact of the work we’re undertaking to reverse biodiversity decline?
Visit the Eco-index website by clicking here:
Research Area Summary Te Whakarāpopototanga Kaupapa
2121 National Biodiversity Vision
This vision underpins our kaupapa and is helping to guide and inspire our partners. Developed from an analysis of the vision statements and goals of organisations interested in native biodiversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, the National Biodiversity Vision addresses the key elements required to reverse biodiversity decline by 2121: Protected, Restored, Connected by 2121.
Ecosystem Targets
In November 2023, Eco-index Ecosystem Targets will be available for every catchment in Aotearoa New Zealand. These targets were developed using spatial analysis of pre-human and current ecosystem extent with a minimum 15% land cover goal for each ecosystem type in each catchment. The targets will help land managers with prioritisation of ecological restoration actions and bring attention to what could be possible for native ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand. Read more here.
Ecosystem Remote Sensing
We are harnessing the latest approaches in machine learning and AI to develop remote sensing ecosystem detectors that will improve our understanding of where native ecosystems are across the country and how they are changing over time. Read more here.
Restoration Investment
Another important piece of the biodiversity puzzle is understanding how much catchment-focussed ecosystem restoration will cost. We are developing methods for costing the many elements of restoration projects for different regions of the country so that projects can be appropriately funded.
Impact Modelling
Land managers are faced with many different ecosystem restoration options, e.g. fencing, pest control and planting. We are using mathematical modelling to understand the best bang-for-buck investment options that create long-lasting biodiversity benefits on the ground.
Team Members Ngā kaimahi
- Jay Whitehead – Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu; Matatihi
- Catherine Kirby; Entelea Scicom Ltd
- Nathaniel Calhoun; Code Innovation
- Olivia Stead; University of Waikato
- Kevan Cote; Moose Engineering & Design
- Karen Denyer; Independent
- Md Saiful Khan; University of Canterbury
- Corey Ruha – Te Arawa; Independent
- Rachelle Binny; Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
- Monique Hall; University of Waikato
- Penny Payne; University of Waikato
Research Partners Ngā hoa pātui rangahau
- University of Waikato
- University of Canterbury
- Geospatial Research Institute
- New Zealand Merino Ltd
- Dairy NZ
- Te Urunga o Kea – Te Arawa Climate Change Working Group
- The a2 Milk Company
- Stats NZ
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
- Ministry for the Environment
- Department of Conservation
- Jobs for Nature
- Taiao: Time-Evolving Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Open Environmental Science
Resource outputs from this programme
Publication
Transformational Transparency in Supply Chains: Leveraging Technology to Drive Radical Change
Many companies are implementing transparency initiatives to improve environmental and social impacts throughout their supply chains. Meaningful change, however, is elusive, and transparency efforts are…
Webinar
Sensing Wetlands
Kevan Cote explains how the Eco-index team are using remote sensing data (satellites and AI) to detect wetlands across Aotearoa. Presented at the Wetlands…
Publication
The impact of remote sensing on monitoring and reporting – The case of conformance systems
The rapid development of remote sensing technologies (such as airborne, unmanned aerial vehicles and terrestrial sensors) as surveillance tools to monitor the environment exposes firms,…
Publication
Promoting social and environmental justice to support Indigenous partnerships in urban ecosystem restoration
Urban ecological restoration typically employs western science approaches to restore degraded ecosystems. As yet, few restoration groups acknowledge the history of these degraded urban sites,…
Media
The Eco-index research programme: Aotearoa New Zealand’s answer for effective investment in biodiversity restoration
Catherine Kirby is the Communication & Relationships Manager for the Eco-index research programme as well as Programme Manager for the People, Cities & Nature research programme, part of…
Report
A joint declaration regarding a unified approach to: Principles of Environmental Data Architecture in Aotearoa NZ
On 10 August, 2021, the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge’s Eco-index programme facilitated an online workshop across various government agencies, universities, CRIs, councils and businesses…
Webinar
Protected, Restored, Connected
Presentations from Eco-index: 1) John Reid (Ngāti Pikiao, Tainui; JD Reid Ltd) and Penny Payne (University of Waikato) 2) Kevan Cote (Moose Engineering & Design)…
Summary
The Eco-index: A tool to guide investment in biodiversity restoration
We have expertise in Aotearoa New Zealand ecology, sustainability, economics, social science, communication, database infrastructure, artificial intelligence, statistical modelling and strategy. Our 2020-2024 programme is…
Report
Rationale for a minimum 15% ecosystem land cover target
The Eco-index team developed a 2121 National Biodiversity Vision that sets long-term goals to Protect, Restore and Connect native ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand by…
Publication
Voicing stakeholder visions for biodiversity indicators: a framework using content analysis
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Eco-index research programme is developing a 100-year national biodiversity vision. The purpose of the vision is to establish a concrete restoration goal that…
Webinar
Poutū-te-rangi 2023 Whāki webinar – Eco-index
An open kōrerorero facilitated by Maui Hudson with Catherine Kirby and Corey Ruha from the Eco-index team. Catherine gives background on the projects mahi for…
Webinar
Introduction to Eco-index (August 2021)
Dr Kiri Joy Wallace and Konny Brown introduce the Eco-index Prgoramme as part of the Te Pūtahi Rangahau Taiao – Environmental Research Institute, University of…
Webinar
Guiding biodiversity efforts using a remote sensing and machine learning approach
October 2022 – The Eco-index team are developing novel remote sensing technology for understanding and guiding biodiversity enhancement efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our goal…
Summary
Native Biodiversity of Aotearoa, by Georgina Wells
A stunning visual representation of some native New Zealand biodiversity, created by Georgia Wells (University of Waikato).
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