Implementing integrated measurements of Essential Biodiversity Variables at a national scale

• Published in: Ecological solutions and evidence Vol. 1; no. 2
• Main Authors: Bellingham, Peter J., Richardson, Sarah J., Gormley, Andrew M., Allen, Robert B., Cook, Asher, Crisp, Philippa N., Forsyth, David M., McGlone, Matt S., McKay, Meredith, MacLeod, Catriona J., Dam‐Bates, Paul, Wright, Elaine F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-12-2020; Wiley
• Subjects: Biodiversity; biological invasions; Birds; Climate change; Deforestation; Ecosystems; Environmental policy; Flowers & plants; Forest ecosystems; Forests; Geographical distribution; grid‐based sampling; Indigenous animals; Indigenous plants; Indigenous species; Islands; Mammals; non‐native birds; Public lands; Rainfall; Regions; Remote sensing; Shrublands; state and trend monitoring; systematic biodiversity assessment; Trends; Vegetation; New Zealand; North Island
• ISSN: 2688-8319; 2688-8319
• DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.12025

1. There is a global need for observation systems that deliver regular, timely data on state and trends in biodiversity, but few have been implemented, and fewer still at national scales. We describe the implementation of measurement of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) on an 8 km × 8 km grid throughout New Zealand, with multiple components of biodiversity (vegetation, birds, and some introduced mammals) measured simultaneously at each sample point.
2. Between 2011 and 2017, all public land was sampled nationally (ca. 1,350 points) and some private land (ca. 500 points). Synthetic appraisals of the state of New Zealand's biodiversity, not possible previously, can be derived from the first measurement of species distribution, population abundance, and taxonomic diversity EBVs.
3. Native bird counts (all species combined) were about 2.5 times greater per sample point in natural forests and shrublands than in non‐woody ecosystems, and native bird counts exceeded those of non‐native birds across all natural forests and shrublands.
4. Non‐native plants, birds, and mammals are invasive throughout, but high‐rainfall forested regions are least invaded, and historically deforested rain shadow regions are most invaded.
5. National reporting of terrestrial biodiversity across New Zealand's public land is established and becoming normalised, in the same manner as national and international reporting of human health and education statistics. The challenge is extending coverage across all private land. Repeated measurements of these EBVs, which began in 2017, will allow defensible estimates of biodiversity trends.
National reporting of three Essential Biodiversity Variables to quantify terrestrial biodiversity across New Zealand's public land is established and becoming normalised, in the same manner as national and international reporting of human health and education statistics. The challenge is extending coverage across all private land. Repeated measurements of these EBVs, which began in 2017, will allow defensible estimates of biodiversity trends.
He Waitara
1. Arā, he hiahia ā‐ao mō ngā pūnaha mātai rite tonu te whakaputa o ngā raraunga hāngai tonu e pā ana ki te tūnga, me ngā tū tikanga i te kanorau koiora, heoi anō, ruarua noa iho kua whakatinanatia, ka mutu, iti ake i tērā ina inehia ā‐motu. Ka whakaahuatia e mātou te whakatinanatanga o te inenga o ngā Taurangi Kanorau Koiora Mātuatua (EBVs) i runga i te tapawhā 8 km x 8 km puta noa i Aotearoa, me ngā tini tūāhuatanga o te kanorau koiora (te otaota, te manu, me ētahi whakangote nō tāwāhi) e inehia ana i te wā kotahi i ia wā whakamātau.
2. I waenga i ngā tau 2011, 2017, i whakamātauria ā‐motu ngā whenua tūmatanui (ca. 1,350 ngā whiwhinga), me ētahi whenua tūmataiti (ca. 500 ngā whiwhinga). I mua rā, kāore i taea ngā arohaehae horihori i te tūnga o te kanorau koiora o Aotearoa, heoi anō, ka heke mai i te ine tuatahi o ngā Taurangi Kanorau Koiora Mātuatua, o te hora, o te tokomaha, me te kanorau ā‐whakarōpū o ngā momo.
3. I ca. 2.5 nui ake te kaute o ngā manu (ngā momo katoa) i ia wāhi whakamātau ki ngā ngahere me ngā ururua māori, i ngā taiao kore rākau, he nui ake hoki ngā kaute o ngā manu māori i ngā manu nō tāwāhi puta noa i ngā ngahere me ngā ururua māori katoa.
4. He tini ngā tipu, ngā manu me ngā whakangote nō tāwāhi puta noa, engari, i ngā rohe ngāherehere he nui te heke o te ua, he iti ake aua momo, ā, i ngā rohe kore rākau o mua kei raro i te maru o te ua, he tini mano aua momo.
5. Kua tū te pānuitanga ā‐motu atu o te kanorau koiora ā‐whenua puta noa i ngā whenua tūmatanui o Aotearoa, ka mutu, kua māori haere hei mahi o ia rā, o ia rā, pēnā ki te pānuitanga ā‐motu, ā‐ao hoki o ngā tatauranga mō te hauora o te tangata me te mātauranga. Ko te wero ināianei ko te horahia atu ki ngā whenua tūmataiti katoa. Mā te tāruatanga o ēnei Taurangi Kanorau Koiora Mātuatua (EBVs), he mea i tīmata i te tau 2017, e āhei ai ngā whakapae whai taunakitanga i ngā ia kanorau koiora.