Dr Mike Joy Ecology - Institute of Agriculture & Environment - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Dr Mike Joy Ecology - Institute of Agriculture & Environment - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Aug 17, 2023 360 likes •596 views

Dr Mike Joy Ecology - Institute of Agriculture & Environment Massey University Palmerston North 1. Some motivation - why we should care (the sad reality - freshwater in NZ) 2. Why what you are doing is so important 3. What healthy

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Dr Mike Joy Ecology - Institute of Agriculture & Environment Massey University Palmerston North

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  • 1. Some motivation - why we should care (the sad

reality - freshwater in NZ)

  • 2. Why what you are doing is so important
  • 3. What healthy freshwater ecosystems need

In remembrance of John Sawyer

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Biodiversity

  • 74% of freshwater fish threatened
  • + crayfish and kakahi too
  • gone by 2050
  • no protection under law for

freshwater fish Highest proportion of threatened plants and animals globally including:

  • 40% of native plants
  • 40% of birds
  • 85% of lizards

All sites

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s IBI score

26 28 30 32 34

  • No. of NZ Species Threatened and At Risk

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 1997 2002 2005 2008/11 Year Taxa Threatened and At Risk

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What a failed environment looks like:

Graphic from Susan Walker Landcare NZ

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What a failed environment looks like

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ANZECC trigger level Nitrate

What a failed environment looks like

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ANZECC trigger level Total P

What a failed environment looks like

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Healthy Doubtful Moderate pollution Severe pollution Insect community index MCI

What a failed environment looks like

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Human health

  • pathogens E. coli

NZ now has the highest frequency per-capita globally of coliform enteritis, campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis and salmonellosis 18 – 34K NZers contract waterborne diseases p.a.

  • benthic cyanobacteria mats (already killing dogs and horses

and one day children)

What a failed environment looks like

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Ministry of health risk level Pathogens

What a failed environment looks like

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“A fresh start for freshwater” NPS objectives 2014: (making the problem disappear)

A B C Before After

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Primary contact (health ministry level) Secondary contact (safe in a boat?) From 260 cfu/l to 1000 cfu/l The government response to the crisis– shifting goalposts

“A fresh start for freshwater” NPS objectives 2014: (aka making the problem disappear)

After Before “I think our rivers are in pretty good shape” (Minister of Tourism John Key on Q&A a few weeks ago)

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The inconvenient reality:

  • The biggest impact on our freshwaters is agriculture (its

not what we are doing the way we are doing it)

  • Farming within rules does NOT mean its sustainable or

NOT having impacts on waterways

  • Irrigation & intensification lead to degraded waterways

and splintered communities (don’t believe me? go ask Cantabrians)

  • Dams are NOT good for rivers and do not mitigate

climate change

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Lonely planet guide

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Clearly the government has failed so I guess its up to us now – So all power to community groups

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Actually we do care!

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Understanding Rivers as a living entity Rivers have evolved over thousands of years both biologically and physically Stream ecosystems driven from bottom up periphyton inverts fish Impacts: Deforestation of catchments flow alteration sedimentation Intensification = nutrient inputs excess plant growth periphyton/algal blooms + Removal of water – intensification of all impacts above and drive intensification so more nutrient and sediment

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Restoration and protection of our waterways:

  • 1. At the higher level the best, cheapest (e.g. 37 times

cheaper) & easiest way to protect waterways is not to pollute or damage them in the first place, so its vital to be involved in advocacy and protection (be political & vocal)

  • 2. At the ‘coal face’ its riparian planting, removing

barriers, reinstating & restoring wetlands, protecting & replanting catchments, monitoring being the eyes

  • f the councils …
  • 3. Start at the top and work down the catchment for

water quality and for fish passage start at the bottom and work up

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Example of why you have to start at the top 2006 2008 2013

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Ecological Impacts of Sediment in Streams

  • Sediment in waterways impacts life in two different ways

via suspended & deposited sediment

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Restoration

  • Make sure you define your goals
  • Monitor monitor - justify investment time and money,

inspire others The value of restoration

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Citizen scientists are need now more than ever before

  • Monitoring protocols (SEV, SHAP, RIT)
  • http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/reports/tec

hnicalpublications/Documents/sevuserguide2011001.pdf

  • http://www.envirolink.govt.nz/PageFiles/31/Stream%20Habitat%20A

ssessment%20Protocols.pdf

  • http://www.niwa.co.nz/sites/niwa.co.nz/files/import/attachments/Rest
  • ration-Indicators-4-WEB.pdf

The value of restoration

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  • Ecosystem functions of rivers, lakes & wetlands

incredibly valuable and important so what you are doing is of immense value

  • Celebrate success! Give awards
  • The best thing for mental health in an crisis like this is to

be doing something to stop the crisis The value of restoration