Key factors determining the costs of New Zealand threatened species programmes Emma Moran Dr. Ross Cullen Dr. Ken Hughey Introduction • In 2002, 603 “Acutely Threatened” NZ species; total expenditure NZ$35.8 million. • NZBS - extra NZ$26.5 million over 5 years, incl. NZ$10 million for kiwi sanctuaries. • Unclear why some threatened species programmes have high costs? • Research aim was to use economic analysis to improve formal understanding of costs. Blue skies research • Cost function - Swanson’s (1994) model of species extinction and biodiversity loss. • Annual cost: costs of base natural resources + costs of managing threats. • Total cost: stream of annual costs, extant population and recovery rate. • Survey of NZDoC Recovery Group Leaders for 11 NZ threatened species programmes. PV of annual costs 2003-2012 10 y = 0.01x2.8372 8 6 4 cost (NZ$ millions) PV (6%) of total annual (6%)PV of total annual 2 0 Beetle Frog Daisy P. Teal Snail Kakapo Mohua Bat Black Kokako patulum Stilt Threatened species programmes Cost versus funding 2003-2012 10 8 6 4 funding (NZ$ funding millions) PV (6%) of total annual annual total of (6%) PV 2 0 Beetle Frog Daisy P. Teal Snail Kakapo Mohua Bat Black Kokako patulum Stilt Threatened species programmes Habitat area 10 25 8 20 6 15 4 10 cost (NZ$ millions) PV (6%) of total annual annual total of (6%) PV 2 5 area habitat (ha) Average 0 0 Beetle Frog Daisy P. Teal Snail Kakapo Mohua Bat Black Kokako patulum Stilt Threatened species programmes Type of threat 10.00 1.00 cost (NZ$ millions) 0.10 PV (6%) of total annual annual total of (6%) PV 0.01 Beetle Frog Daisy P. Teal Snail Kakapo Mohua Bat Black Kokako patulum Stilt Threatened species programmes PV of cost per unit 2003-2012 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 PV (6%) of total annual annual total of (6%) PV cost / unit (NZ$ millions) (NZ$ / unit cost 0.20 0.00 Beetle Daisy P. Teal Frog Snail Kokako Mohua Black Kakapo Bat patulum Stilt Threatened species programmes K-selection 1.00 0 0.80 2 0.60 4 0.40 6 K-selection PV (6%) of total annual annual total of (6%) PV cost / unit (NZ$ thousands) (NZ$ cost / unit 0.20 8 0.00 10 Campbell Island North Island Mohua Black Stilt Kakapo Teal Kokako Threatened bird programmes Projected total costs 30 31 100+ 25 20 12 25 15 (NZ$ millions) 10 Projected total cost 5 13 12 64 13 12 11 0 Beetle Daisy P. Teal Frog Flax Kokako Mohua Black Kakapo Bat patulum Snail Stilt Threatened species programmes PV of projected total costs 30 25 20 15 PV (6%)PV of projected 10 total cost (NZ$ millions) 5 0 Beetle Daisy P. Teal Frog Flax Kokako Mohua Black Kakapo Bat patulum Snail Stilt Threatened species programmes Conclusions • Habitat area and taxon are key factors. • Other factors - level of existing knowledge? • A statistically estimated model. • Include estimates of cost and recovery rate in species recovery plans. • Cost information - funding applications, allocation of funding, and cost-effectiveness analysis. .