Why biodiversity is important

We live in a country rich with life such as animails, plants, fungi and bacteria. These life forms inhabit many different parts of New Zealand on land and in water, from the coast to the high country. This variety of life is called biodiversity.

Our biodiversity helps define our distinctive cultural identity and encourages a sense of pride in our natural environment.

The uniqueness of our biodiversity reflects New Zealand’s geographic isolation and the widely diverse land and seascapes to be found in New Zealand. As a result, a high proportion of our indigenous animal and plant species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on earth. For this reason New Zealand’s unique biodiversity is also of international importance.

Ecosystems are all about the relationships between the different life forms of any unique environment. If one element is removed or a foreign one is added, it affects more than one thing; it affects the whole dynamic equilibrium of the system.

New Zealand's isolation means that the islands have provided protection for the indigenous flora and fauna. However, with the advancements in technology, the ability to travel around has become easier - for both guests and unwanted foreign pests.

An ecosystem operates as an intricate web of inter-relationships. Therefore, if an introduced species enteres, this can destory the fragile balance of the system rather like a domino effect.

Benefits from biodiversity

Biodiversity provides a range of benefits to our quality of life:

It provides economic benefits. The tourism industry in Canterbury depends partly on being positioned to market the region’s unique and special environments. There are also existing and potential markets for species with medical or cosmetic use such as tea tree (manuka) or flax (harakeke) based products. It is the basis for a growing ‘restoration’ industry that includes fencing material and tool suppliers, garden centres and nurseries as well as experts or contractors who can provide biodiversity advice and practical expertise.

There are social benefits to helping define our distinctive national and regional identity and in encouraging a sense of pride in our natural environment, as well as recreational and educational benefits.

Cultural benefits include making the most of opportunities to share cultural knowledge and perspectives and in recognising Maori kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the natural environment). In practical terms, protecting indigenous biodiversity enables Maori traditions such as the sustainable harvesting of mahinga kai (food from natural, traditional sources).