This survey is an opportunity for you to contribute to our Action Plan: Carbon Sequestration and Natural Restoration
We recommend you familiarise yourself with Chapter 4 (p81) ‘Working with Nature’ and Chapter 14 (p273) ‘Forestry” from the Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) and Chapter 6 (p97) ‘Natural Environment’ in the National Adaption Plan (NAP). These can be accessed under Council’s climate change resources tab.
The issues around climate and biodiversity are inextricably linked. Aligning work on climate change and biodiversity is an opportunity to take strong action in both areas. This approach will ensure our response to human induced climate change also improves the resilience of our native ecosystems and does not further their destruction.
Nature-based solutions offer a practical approach for integrating climate and biodiversity policy for all sectors of our society and economy. They can remove carbon from the atmosphere, store it and build resilience to the impacts of climate change at the same time as supporting biodiversity and wider environmental outcomes. They can also create employment opportunities that support an equitable transition, especially in rural areas.
Forests store carbon from the atmosphere, helping offset other sectors’ greenhouse gas emissions. Forestry and wood processing already make an important contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand’s bioeconomy.
The questions that follow reflect the focus areas of both the ERP and NAP.
The ‘Te Mana o te Taiao – Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy 2020’ recognises that, for our native wildlife to thrive, we need to address the climate and biodiversity crises at the same time. Key outcomes and objectives of the strategy are that:
· thriving biodiversity plays a central role in our approach to mitigating climate change.
· biodiversity provides nature-based solutions to climate change and is resilient to its effects.
· Nature-based solutions buffer against climate impacts, while also fostering wellbeing, sequestering carbon and increasing biodiversity.