Auckland council biodiversity strategy
Managing the risks to indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species from both the intentional and unintentional introduction and spread of organisms capable of causing harm, including animal pests, weeds and diseases, that is, unwanted organisms Management of animal and plant pests on land and in freshwater and the coastal and marine environment is also covered in themes one, two and three. The risks to New Zealand from pests and unwanted organisms including genetically modified organisms are managed to protect our indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species. A precautionary approach 49 is taken with respect to new organisms, including genetically modified organisms. Biosecurity management is effectively coordinated between central and strategy government, private agencies and interested groups. Systems for managing pests affecting primary production and indigenous biodiversity are coordinated. New Zealand's biosecurity system complements international arrangements to minimise the risks of entry of unwanted organisms to New Zealand. Management and surveillance systems are backed by effective research and the assessment of biosecurity risks. Ecologically and socially acceptable mechanisms are in place to balance the benefits of new introduced species against potential risks to indigenous species and ecosystems and other valued introduced species. Biosecurity-related incidents in recent years, such as the tussock moth and fruit fly incursions, the national debate over the release of rabbit calicivirus disease, and the rapid spread of the seaweed Undaria, illustrate the vulnerability of New Zealand's indigenous ecosystems and productive sectors to invasive introduced species. The framework for biosecurity management is provided by the Biosecurity Act and HSNO Act The Biosecurity Act provides for the exclusion of pests and unwanted organisms from New Zealand within a broad cost-benefit framework, as well as the eradication or management of pests once they are here. A number of government departments, as well as local government and nongovernmental agencies, have responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act. The purpose of the HSNO Act is to protect the environment and the health and safety of people and communities by preventing or managing the adverse effects of hazardous substances and new organisms which are proposed to be introduced to the country. Recent developments in this management framework include:. These developments aim to provide for greater coordination between agencies in biosecurity matters. The ERMANZ's primary role under the HSNO Act is to decide on applications for the manufacture, import or release of hazardous substances and new organisms into New Zealand. The Biosecurity Council's role is to advise the Minister of Biosecurity on policies and procedures to ensure interagency cooperation, and to provide information and education strategies. The Council has prepared a draft biosecurity strategy, and is developing a biosecurity research strategy. New Zealand is also currently involved in the development of an international Biosafety Protocol. DoC has undertaken scoping assessments of risks posed by potential pests to indigenous species and ecosystems. However, the full integration of indigenous biodiversity considerations into the biosecurity management regime has yet to occur. One of the difficulties here is our limited knowledge about the effects of introduced species on indigenous biodiversity. In April council resident of Auckland's eastern suburbs found a distinctive caterpillar which was identified as a white-spotted tussock moth. A native species of East Asia, it probably arrived in New Zealand as an egg mass on a container, in an imported second-hand car, or in someone's luggage. Initial concerns were that the tussock moth could be a threat to our plantation forests. However, later feeding trials showed that the moth was also a potentially serious pest to some of our native plants, particularly beech trees, as well as a threat to our horticulture and forestry industries. Initial surveys showed the moth was confined to an area of about seven square kilometres in Auckland's eastern suburbs. The Government decided to take the once-only opportunity to eradicate the tussock moth before it spread. An intensive eradication programme was started. In the first year the area was sprayed from the air and the ground using an organic bacterial spray. The second year saw the largest insect trapping programme ever undertaken in New Zealand, with pheromone-baited traps set. More than properties were also searched. High-density surveillance continued until June - time for three generations of tussock moth since the last moth council been trapped in April The moth is now considered eradicated, although MAF is still carrying out small-scale surveillance trapping around the Auckland area. The apparent success of the tussock moth eradication programme in Auckland is a world first; no other urban pest eradication programme of this scale and complexity has succeeded. Recent initiatives under the Biosecurity and HSNO Acts such as the establishment of the Biosecurity Council are in the early stages of implementation. There is still a lack of clarity about some roles and responsibilities of different agencies in biosecurity management. Controlling established pests is very expensive and time-consuming, and eradication is rarely possible. Preventing the introduction of new unwanted species before they become established, through integrated border control, is a much smarter strategy and more likely to be effective. However, New Zealand's dependence on international trade and tourism means that border control considerations have to be balanced against the need for transboundary movement of goods and people. Recent advances in genetic engineering have enabled rapid increases in biological manipulations through biotechnology and the production of genetically modified organisms GMOs. While the HSNO Act provides a statutory framework for considering GMO developments on a case by case basis, there are concerns about the potential threat of new organisms including GMOs to indigenous biodiversity, and a need seen to develop mechanisms to identify and manage these risks. A Royal Commission into genetic modification is to be held and some interim measures may operate biodiversity this process. Many aquatic pests animal pests and weeds in freshwater and marine environments are, or have the potential to be, widespread and pervasive. Pest management strategies are being developed to eradicate a few potentially serious aquatic weeds whose present distribution is limited. Once aquatic pests are established, their control tends to be more difficult and expensive than for pests on land, making prevention even more critical; systems for this are less well developed, however see Themes Two and Three. Underlying many biosecurity management issues are some significant knowledge gaps and a lack of capacity, especially in relation to assessing the risks of introduced species and new organisms to indigenous biodiversity. This makes the precautionary principle 51 especially important. Aquatic weeds, the silent invaders of our waterways, pose a particular biosecurity problem for New Zealand. Preventing the entry of potential new aquatic weed species is critical, because once they are established, it is often not feasible to eradicate them and any control is usually costly, ongoing and only partially successful. New weeds can enter via a number of different pathways: Deliberate introductions of freshwater aquatic plant species into New Zealand began as early asmainly for the ornamental pond and aquarium trade. It was not until the s that legislation was introduced to attempt to control new imports. Despite a progressive growth in controls, in the last 30 years a record number of new aquatic species have been brought into the country. Currently there are more than species of introduced freshwater plants in New Zealand, of which at least 50 27 percent have become naturalised established in the wild. This almost equals the number of indigenous freshwater plants 59 species. About half 26 of the naturalised plants are considered weeds. Uncertain taxonomy and sketchy records mean that there could be many other weeds already present, but not yet recognised. Apart from our existing freshwater weeds, there are a large number of freshwater species not yet here, but recognised as potential pests. NIWA has identified taxa including established weed species as potential ecological weeds that we need to guard against. Effectively coordinate biosecurity management within and across central and local government and non-governmental agencies, and clarify responsibilities for managing risks from unwanted organisms to indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species. Establish effective methods of assessing and managing risks from unwanted organisms to indigenous biodiversity in conjunction with those methods for introduced species. Maintain and enhance integrated border control measures as the first and most important line of defence for minimising biosecurity risks to New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species. Manage the introduction strategy new organisms including genetically modified organisms in a way that avoids adverse effects on New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species. Eradicate or contain introduced species that have the potential to become serious threats to New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species. Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai Main menu http: Volunteer Training Conservation activities Conservation education Have your say Run a project Apply for permits Funding Popular Online courses Conservation Week Community project guidelines Attract lizards to your garden. Recruitment process Working at DOC Preparing yourself. Home Nature Biodiversity NZ Biodiversity Strategy an New Zealand Biodiversity St Action plans Theme five. Table of Contents Previous Section Chapter Next Section. Scope Managing the risks to indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species from both the intentional and unintentional introduction and spread of organisms capable of causing harm, including animal pests, weeds and diseases, that is, unwanted organisms Desired outcome for The risks to New Zealand from pests and unwanted organisms including genetically modified organisms are managed to protect our indigenous biodiversity and important introduced species. Current management Biosecurity-related incidents in recent years, such as the tussock moth and fruit fly incursions, the council debate over the release of rabbit calicivirus disease, and the rapid spread of the seaweed Undaria, illustrate the vulnerability of New Zealand's indigenous ecosystems and productive sectors to invasive introduced species. Recent developments in this management framework include: Summary of issues Coordination of biosecurity management Recent initiatives under the Biosecurity and HSNO Acts such as the establishment biodiversity the Biosecurity Council are in the early stages of implementation. Agencies do not yet have fully coordinated objectives, policies and operating procedures. There appears to be little incentive for agencies to take the initiative, under the Biosecurity Act, to control pests particularly new pests that present risks to indigenous biodiversity. Agency responsibilities for managing unwanted organisms detected as being present within New Zealand but not yet widespread are not being acted on because of insufficient priority and inadequate resources, for example the design auckland implementation of eradication programmes or preparation of pest management strategies. Integrated border control Controlling established pests is very expensive and time-consuming, and eradication is rarely possible. A lack of resources for identifying exotic organisms that pose a potential threat to indigenous biodiversity, and for detecting and responding to unwanted organisms that do arrive, may be increasing New Zealand's biosecurity risks. Surveillance programmes for specific pest species are costly, and therefore the geographical and ecological scope of surveillance programmes is restricted. There have been inconsistencies, both within and between agencies, in the way border control decisions are made and advice is given to the Government for example, in assessing the risks posed by unwanted organisms, and the costs and benefits of taking action to prevent their introduction or establishment Under the Convention on Biological Diversity, New Zealand has agreed to promote notification, exchange of information, and consultation on activities that are likely to adversely affect biodiversity in other countries. Such activities may include the export of species that are known pests in New Zealand. However, there are few mechanisms in place to do this, beyond meeting the animal and plant health status requirements of other countries. Biosafety for genetically modified organisms GMOs Recent advances in genetic engineering have enabled rapid increases in biological manipulations through biotechnology and the production of genetically modified organisms GMOs. Agencies are still in the early stages of developing biosafety protocols for GMOs. The roles of agencies in controlling GMOs have not been fully defined; two crucial areas are the post-release monitoring of new organisms including GMOs and managing responses to nonintended impacts of these organisms. In New Zealand there is a low awareness of biotechnology issues generally and, in particular, issues of biosafety and border control. The overall risks and benefits of GMOs to biodiversity need to be assessed. Aquatic biosecurity issues Many aquatic pests animal pests and weeds in freshwater and marine environments are, or have the potential to be, widespread and pervasive. No agency has clear responsibility for surveillance for, and emergency response to, aquatic weeds and animal pests. Some of the greatest risks from potential aquatic weeds appear to be from a number of species already present in New Zealand but not yet widespread or naturalised for example, the oxygen weed Hydrilla ; their management currently falls outside of border control and biosecurity mechanisms. Uncertain identity taxonomic uncertainty of strategy introduced aquatic plant species can prevent a timely response being developed. Knowledge and capacity Underlying many biosecurity management issues are some significant knowledge gaps and a lack of capacity, especially in relation to assessing the risks of introduced species and new organisms to indigenous biodiversity. Most agencies do not have adequate information to incorporate risks to indigenous biodiversity into their risk analysis and decision making protocols for biosecurity, nor is there yet an agreed consistent methodology for such risk assessment. Risk assessment methodologies for importing new auckland and for the control of unwanted organisms at the border are not fully aligned with each other. Under World Trade Organisation rules, justification for import restrictions should be based on sound biodiversity, and therefore our ability to impose restrictions on risk goods may be constrained by poor knowledge of the potential impacts of those organisms. There is a lack of knowledge for assessing the potential risks to indigenous biodiversity of exotic species that are already in New Zealand, but at present not widely distributed or naturalised. New Zealand's situation with respect to the relationship between introduced and auckland species is unique, so shortfalls in knowledge in this area cannot be readily bridged by access to overseas information. There is insufficient expertise and technical capacity in aspects of biosecurity management especially in relation to effects of pests and unwanted organisms on indigenous biodiversity amongst relevant agencies. The potential risks and benefits of GMOs are not well understood and assessment systems are not easily implemented. Action plan 52 Objective 5. Subscribe to What's Up DOC?
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