REVIEW ARTICLE a Research Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation on New Zealand’S Offshore Islands

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REVIEW ARTICLE a Research Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation on New Zealand’S Offshore Islands AvailableTowns et on-lineal.: Offshore at: http://www.newzealandecology.org/nzje/ island research strategy 1 REVIEW ARTICLE A research strategy for biodiversity conservation on New Zealand’s offshore islands David R. Towns1*, Peter J. Bellingham2, Christa P. H. Mulder3 and Phil O’B. Lyver2 1Research and Development Group, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 68 908, Newton, Auckland 1145, New Zealand 2Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand 3 Department of Biology & Wildlife & Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA *Author for correspondence (Email: [email protected]) Published on-line: 14 December 2011 Abstract: New Zealand’s offshore islands are refuges for many threatened species, a high proportion of vertebrate diversity, and the world’s most diverse fauna of seabirds. We present key issues and questions that can be used to guide research on the conservation of biodiversity on these islands. Four global reviews formed a basis from which we identified research questions of potential relevance to the management of these islands. The research questions were assigned in the context of nine objectives proposed as a means of achieving ecological integrity. For each of the nine objectives, we then asked what has been achieved in terms of island research and management, and what needs to be achieved in order to meet long-term goals. We used local examples to identify issues and questions specific to the islands of New Zealand. Our analyses revealed two research areas in which current understanding is poor. One is the need to understand ecosystem processes and their resilience to long-term environmental change. The second is the need to define and better understand the consequences of direct involvement by the public in the management of islands, including partnerships between government agencies, tangata whenua (original people of the land – Māori) and non-government organisations such as community groups. Keywords: climate change; community involvement; ecological integrity; ecosystem composition; ecosystem processes; environmental representation; extinctions and declines; invasive species; needs assessment; pollutants; sustainable use. Introduction elsewhere. Notably, the islands support a disproportionally large amount of the national biodiversity of vertebrates (Daugherty Island ecosystems worldwide are particularly vulnerable to et al. 1990), including 85 species of seabirds, 42% of which extinctions (Carlquist 1965; Quammen 1996; Wilson 2002). are regionally or nationally endemic (Taylor 2000). At least In New Zealand, 41% of all bird species have become extinct 95 (17%) of the 577 invaded islands > 1 ha have now been since human settlement began about 730 years ago (Tennyson cleared of all introduced mammalian predators and herbivores & Martinson 2006). The New Zealand Government’s (Parkes & Murphy 2003; Towns in press), with benefits for Biodiversity Strategy (NZBS), coordinated by the Department the conservation of numerous species of plants and animals of Conservation (DOC) and the Ministry for the Environment (Towns et al. 2009b; Bellingham et al. 2010a). These island (MfE), was a response to continuing population declines of restoration efforts include initiatives that involve tangata many remaining species of flora and fauna, concerns about whenua (original people of the land or Māori) and community habitat deterioration, and the effects of biological invasions groups (e.g. Mansfield & Towns 1997; Hunt & Williams (DOC & MfE 2000). One goal of the NZBS is to ‘maintain 2000), as part of an increasing interest and involvement of and restore a full range of natural habitats and ecosystems to Māori and non-Māori in hands-on conservation management a healthy functioning state; enhance critically rare habitats (Hardie-Boys 2010). … and maintain and restore viable populations of indigenous About 250 (34%) of the 735 islands >1 ha are managed by species and subspecies across their natural range and maintain DOC (Parkes & Murphy 2003), including all subtropical and their genetic diversity’. The NZBS also advises agencies to subantarctic islands under New Zealand administration. How develop research strategies that identify gaps in the knowledge DOC will contribute to objectives of the NZBS is defined in and understanding of key threats to biodiversity. an annual statement of intent to Parliament. Since the NZBS Like islands globally (Caujapé-Castells et al 2010), does not provide methods for measuring progress towards its New Zealand’s offshore islands are a crucial component of goals, changes in the condition of biodiversity are measured by its natural habitats. The origins, distribution and history of DOC through changes in ecological integrity (e.g. DOC 2009). conservation on these islands are described in detail in Towns A similar approach is used to support measurements of the & Ballantine (1993), Towns et al. (1997) and Bellingham status of natural resources by agencies such as Parks Canada et al. (2010a). In brief, New Zealand’s offshore islands span (reviewed by Lee et al. 2005). In New Zealand, ecological a latitudinal range nearly twice that of the main North and integrity is defined as ‘the full potential of indigenous biotic South islands, maintain populations of species endemic to and abiotic features, and natural processes, functioning in specific archipelagos, and contain relict populations extinct sustainable communities, habitats and landscapes’ (Lee et al. New Zealand Journal of Ecology (2012) 36(1): 1-20 © New Zealand Ecological Society. 2 New Zealand Journal of Ecology, Vol. 36, No. 1, 2012 2005). Achieving improved ecological integrity relies on the island restoration projects (e.g. Towns et al. 2011). For this goal support and participation of communities of people, a point to be met, relationships will need to be strengthened through regularly emphasised in DOC’s statements of intent (e.g. DOC improved mutual understanding and defined social goals. 2008, 2009, 2010a), and accommodated in two of the indicators Participation in conservation activities as well as measuring (objectives) listed by Lee et al. (2005). Combined views of their outcomes (e.g. Jackson 2001) should also help with the biodiversity and social goals through multi-scaled systems wider goal of involving residents in the eradication of problem analysis is increasingly advocated as the most effective long- organisms from the larger, inhabited islands. term approach to measuring and resolving problems related to Finally, the New Zealand Government has a relationship environmental change (e.g. White et al. 2008; Anderson et al. with Māori through the Treaty of Waitangi that is enshrined 2009; Lindemayer & Hunter 2010; Sterling et al. 2010). in legislation (e.g. Section 4 of the Conservation Act 1987). Biodiversity management and community participation This relationship carries with it opportunities and obligations on New Zealand offshore islands are likely to advance most that are reflected in other goals of the NZBS (DOC & MfE rapidly if long-term goals are defined for all islands (Atkinson 2000): protecting the interests Māori have in indigenous 1990; DOC & MfE 2000; DOC 2010b). This possibility was biodiversity, building and strengthening their partnerships recognised by DOC and Landcare Research, who requested that with Crown agencies, and conserving and sustainably using we identify information needs and promote them to funding indigenous biodiversity. The challenge will be to understand agencies as national priorities. Here we demonstrate how cross-cultural views of environmental management (Taiepa national priorities for our offshore islands could be informed et al. 1997). by listing key issues and questions relating to the management of biodiversity. To achieve this, we identified global research questions that may be applicable to New Zealand and locally Methods relevant biodiversity issues. We then sorted these according to indicators of change in ecological integrity. Finally, we We obtained references to published research strategies defined specific research questions that, if investigated, should elsewhere from three sources: (1) Google Scholar using the be of particular assistance to the conservation of biodiversity keywords island, biodiversity, research, strategy; (2) BIOSIS on islands. advanced search TS=(island AND (research OR strategy) For the purposes of this review, we have used the definition AND (biodiversity)); and (3) the contents pages since of biodiversity in the NZBS, which in brief is the ‘variety of 2006 (the last five years) for the highly cited conservation all biological life – plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms journals Conservation Biology, Biological Conservation, and – the genes they contain and the ecosystems … where they Biodiversity and Conservation (e.g. Liu et al. 2011). These live’ (DOC & MfE 2000). An offshore island is any landmass sources revealed two reviews of particular relevance: an permanently surrounded by water off the three main islands account of 100 questions of importance to the conservation of (mainland) of New Zealand. global biodiversity (Sutherland et al. 2009) and key research The national context for our investigation was provided questions identified to manage non-indigenous species (Byers by a review of the state of island conservation in New Zealand et al. 2002). Hitherto unpublished information was gleaned (Bellingham et al. 2010a), guidelines for the management from 140 presentations at an international
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