Outline. Scion Forestry Ecosystem Services Forum, 8 May 2018 From Data to Decisions: a Regional Council Perspective

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1 Outline Scion Forestry Ecosystem Services Forum, 8 May 2018 From Data to Decisions: a Regional Council Perspective Waikato Regional Council 1. Our information needs 2. Our approach to ecosystem services 3. The relevance of SEEA

2 The Structure of Government in New Zealand Central Government Regional Councils City Councils District Councils Unitary Councils Combined Regional and City/District Councils Community

3 WHAT WE DO Sustainable management of natural resources Integrated catchment management Flood and protection control works Pest control and biosecurity Emergency and hazard management Resource use Public transport Regional Development Science and strategy

4 Waikato Region Auckland Hamilton Waikato Regional Council Wellington Christchurch

5 OUR PEOPLE The Waikato region is home to 450,000 people x About one tenth of NZ In 50 years we will likely have about 600,000 people nearly 40% more than now. But: uneven distribution across region.

6 WAIKATO REGION Fourth largest region 25,000km 2 Hamilton city and ten districts Long coastline 1200km Longest river Waikato River Largest lake Lake Taupō 400,000 people (40% more in 2060) Resource-based economy

7 The Importance of Environmental Accounts Natural resources - our most important assets Ecosystem services - the benefits they provide to people and the economy We can only manage what we know

8 Why we need information 1. Legislative requirements (RMA, LGA, Transport, Biosecurity) 2. Good business practice evidence-based/informed decisions, reporting, accountability (not just financial) Information is used for: Develop, implement and review policies Assess the effects of resource use and development Report on the State of the Region s environment Produce educational material Communicate and engage with stakeholders and community. What gets measured gets done

9 Do you honestly believe we have enough information to make a decision?

10 NEW APPROACHES NEEDED Beyond GDP... Long term Integration... consider all wellbeings Integrated accounts - SEEA Recognise dependencies and limits of growth

11 Waikato - Regional Policy Statement (RPS) Issue 1 - State of Resources Declining quality and quantity of natural and physical resources impacts their life-supporting capacity, reduces intrinsic values and ecosystem services and in general reduces our ability to provide for our wellbeing. Objective 3.8: Ecosystem Services The range of ecosystem services associated with natural resources are recognised and maintained or enhanced to enable their on-going contribution to regional wellbeing Strategic Direction Economic growth ensures natural capital and ecosystem services are maintained The full range of ecosystem types, including land, water and coastal and marine ecosystems, is in a healthy and functional state Ecosystem services are the benefits society obtains from the environment

12 Our forests Vegetation cover Extent and distribution Changes over time

13 Waikato region Indigenous Vegetation Cover Indigenous Vegetation Cover 1840 Indigenous Vegetation Cover 2012 Indigenous Vegetation Cover 2012 private land

14 Only some ecosystem services have a market value. Others can only be valued in non-monetary terms (e.g. cultural) Spiritual & Cultural Values Recreation Scenic Value Carbon Sequestration Wood products Genetic Variation Waste Recycling Water Filtration Seed Bank Nutrient Recycling

15 WRC Approach to Ecosystem Services A process for assessing and prioritising ecosystem services: 1. Classification and accounting - SEEA 2. Characterisation (conditions, trends) 3. Valuation 4. Mapping 5. Modelling

16 Classification of Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services Proposed Classification for Soil Natural Capital & Ecosystem Services 23 Ocotber 2017 ECOSYSTEM SERVICE Supporting Ecosystem Services - Necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services Nutrient & water cycling Primary production Photosynthesis Soil formation & retention Provisioning of habitat Production of atmospheric oxygen Doc# Provisioning Regulating Cultural NATURAL CAPITAL (ECOSYSTEM ) Air Biodiversity Indigenous Non-indigenous Built Environment Urban (built-up) Parks & Reserves Food (crops, livestock, capture fisheries, aquaculture, wildfoods) Fibre (timber/wood and other fibres) Biomass Fuel Freshwater Genetic Resources Biochemical, natural medicines & pharmaceuticals Air Quality Climate Regulation Regulation of water timing and flows Erosion Regulation Water Purification & waste treatment Disease Regulation Pest Regulation Pollination Natural Hazard Regulation Recreation & Ecotourism Ethical & Spiritual Inspirational & Education Mines, quarries and landfills Coastal & Marine Estuaries Wetlands Mangroves Beaches Dunes Rocky reefs Open water Fresh water Streams & Rivers Wetlands Lakes Geothermal Land Soils Peat Pumice Ash Sedimentary - weathered Sedimentary weakly structured Gley

17 Soils ecosystem services approach Identify and prioritise stocks & flows Stocktake: descriptive, analyse and quantify Future scenarios Link to Land Use Strategy ( best use of land)

18 Best Use of the Land Managing for multiple benefits (ecosystem services) ü Carbon sequestration (ETS) ü Water quality and quantity ü Soil quality and erosion ü Landscapes and cultural/spiritual ü Recreation and tourism ü Biodiversity

19 LAND USE Now 53% Pastoral farming 27% Indigenous vegetation 13% Plantation forestry 1% Horticulture/crops 1% Urban In 50 years?

20 WISE Simulation Model Waikato Integrated Scenario Explorer (WISE) Tool to support integrated spatial planning A dynamic simulation model System of interacting models WISE Version 1.4: ü ü ü ü ü 48 economic sectors 25 land uses Grid cells 1 ha (100x100m) to 2063, in 1 year steps Simulation takes 10-15min LU Suitability Accessibility Zoning Local Influence

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22 Modelling Ecosystem Services: Regional Carbon Strategy

23 Impact Investment a tool to achieve transformational land use change Upper Waipa case study Funded and enabled by Waikato River Authority & Waikato Regional Council Phase 1 (2016/17): identify land use opportunities that will deliver multiple benefits Phase 2 (2017): work with investment community in NZ and offshore to better understand levels of interest, expectations etc Phase 3 (ongoing): due diligence for dairy and drystock investment, focus on sediment, nutrient leaching and e-coli, building the investment case & operating model

24 Land use change from sheep/beef to carbon forestry Identify suitable land for carbon forestry (GIS) ü Steep, erosion prone farming land (LUC 6&7) ü Maximise environmental benefits Ø About 400,000 ha of suitable land identified Model input: ü Convert 75,000ha by 2050 Ø Model shows most suitable locations Results Ø Land owners profits up (C price $20/tonne) Ø Carbon Farming sector: output & jobs Ø Overall (all sectors): no significant change Ø Enhanced biodiversity Ø Reduced erosion Ø Less runoff, reduced N & P loads Red = Sheep/beef on LUC 6&7 now that changed to carbon farming in 2050

25 Relevance of environmental and economic accounts - SEEA Integrated structure Stocks and flows Coherent and consistent concepts and methodology Changes and trends over time Sustainable development indicators Green growth, resource efficiency Aligned with natural capital and ecosystem approach Ø Experimental Ecosystem Accounts

26 SEEA and Ecosystem Accounts - What Regional Councils Need Regional/ local data case studies Spatial data, mapping (extent) Timely data (and changes over time) Quantity and quality (condition) Ecosystem accounting a priority (stocks & flows) Linking natural capital to ecosystem services Monetary and non-monetary values Modelling and scenarios, regional development

27 Concluding Remarks Natural resources are key assets for New Zealand. Waikato Regional Council s Regional Policy Statement provides a policy context for a natural capital and ecosystem services approach. Need for classification, characterisation, mapping, valuation and modelling. Using standardised accounting methods is essential to effective, e.g. SEEA. Local decision-making requires local information. Managing for multiple benefits and recognising environmental limits are critical for sustainable development. People and the economy are dependent on NC and ES. Use of current data to explore the future (scenarios, simulate consequences of alternative futures).

28 What counts and what is counted Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. Albert Einstein