The Department of Conservation (DOC) is currently seeking public feedback on its discussion document on proposals for a new biodiversity strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand.
‘Te Koiroa o Te Koiora, our shared vision for living with nature’ outlines draft proposals for inclusion in a new biodiversity strategy. It follows a range of conversations initiated by DOC in 2018-19. It is intended to inform a new national biodiversity strategy to replace the current biodiversity strategy that has been in place since 2000.
The discussion document sets out proposed components for inclusion in a new biodiversity strategy, including a vision. The proposed vision for 2070 is:
Nature in Aotearoa is healthy, abundant, and thriving. Current and future generations connect with nature, restore it and are restored by it.
Beyond the vision, the discussion document sets out proposed values and principles, long term outcomes, and how the strategy is to be implemented. The implementation strategy includes reference to the proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, which is a separate, but complementary, Ministry for the Environment (MfE) initiative. MfE has advised that a public consultation version of the proposed NPS is expected to be released in October 2019.
Feedback on the discussion document will be used to inform the development of a new national biodiversity strategy. As a non-statutory document, the biodiversity strategy will be approved by Cabinet.
If you wish to provide comment on any aspect of the biodiversity strategy discussion document, you can attend one of the regional workshops being organised by DOC, or you can contact us to assist with written feedback. Written feedback is required on or before 22 September 2019.