Kaimai Catchment Project Commitment

The Kaimai catchments will benefit from a community-driven approach to managing its natural resources following the signing of a partnership agreement today by the Department of Conservation, Environment Bay of Plenty and Environment Waikato.

The three agencies have formed the Kaimai Catchments Technical Advisory Group (KCTAG) with the aim of coordinating agency and community effort so that natural resources in the catchments can be protected and sustained.

Department of Conservation Tauranga Area Manager and KCTAG Chairperson, Andrew Baucke, says they’ve received feedback from the community about the issues of concern.

“Water quality, soil stability and forest health in the catchments, especially in the face of climate change, have all been mentioned,” Mr Baucke said. “They especially want to see a more integrated approach to managing the region’s natural resources.”

The Kaimai Ranges disperse water into two significant water bodies, the Tauranga Harbour and the Waihou River (which drains into the Firth of Thames). The catchments and the natural resources within them provide for the economic, social and cultural well being of the people in the region. They support uses such as agriculture, horticulture, recreation, conservation, forestry, electricity generation and water supply. Sustainable management of soil, water, vegetation and fauna are important to sustain these uses into the future.

The multi-agency KCTAG has developed a framework and project which proposes a catchment by catchment approach to developing community driven management planning and action. Their first action has been to commission a State of the Environment report for the catchments, which is due to be completed later this month.

Environment Bay of Plenty Land Resources Manager, Warwick Murray said the report will provide the group with an assessment of the relative health of the catchments.

“We felt that it was important to gather as much existing information as possible so that we could have informed dialogue with and between stakeholder groups,” Mr Murray said.

Environment Waikato Biosecurity & Natural Heritage Manager, John Simmons recognises the challenge but is not fazed by the enormity of the project.

“This project spans the boundaries of hundreds of landowners, two regional councils, five district councils and 11 iwi,” Mr Simmons said. “It’s a big job but it’s vital that we all work together if we want to protect the resources and create a prosperous future”.

In partnership with the KCTAG, the NZ Landcare Trust has secured $345,000 funding across the next three years from the Ministry for the Environment and appointed project co-ordinator Kate Akers, in order to facilitate and co-ordinate the next phase of the project.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the Kaimai communities on this exciting project” Ms Akers said. Her first step will be to share the report findings with key stakeholders and establish forums for them to discuss and develop their priorities and aspirations for the catchments into concrete plans.

Further information and updates will be available at: www.landcare.org.nz/regional-focus/central-north-island/tauranga-waihou-catchments/

ENDS

Kaimai Catchments Project

Overview
Background:

The Department of Conservation, Environment Bay of Plenty and Environment Waikato have been working together to explore options for coordinating their respective work programmes to protect the Kaimai catchments and receiving harbour and estuaries, and to engage iwi and local communities in this protection effort.

This is a climate change project that encompasses 250,000 ha of the catchments which run off from the Kaimai Mamaku Ranges. The land is under multiple ownership and administration with approximately one quarter of the land administered by the Department of Conservation. The land spans 11 different iwi, two regional councils and five district councils.

The Kaimai catchments disperse water into two significant water bodies, the Tauranga Harbour and the Firth of Thames; both of which are affected by land use activities in their catchments. The forests of the ranges, remaining wetlands and other remnant natural areas within the catchments are locally important for biodiversity and they provide valuable ecosystem services to the two regions. The ranges, streams and harbours also hold significant cultural and recreational value to the people of the two regions.

These catchments and the natural resources within them also contribute substantially to the economic, social and cultural well being of the people in the regions. They support uses such as agriculture, horticulture, conservation, forestry, electricity generation, water supply and recreation. The management of soil, water, vegetation and fauna are important to sustain these uses into the future.

An inter-agency working group has developed a framework and project which proposes a catchment by catchment approach to ensuring their respective efforts have been coordinated and to encourage active community involvement in catchment protection work.

The working group has proposed the establishment of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) which would have as its purpose, to lead and facilitate the development of the project. The TAG would comprise representatives of the three agencies but consideration may be given to invite representation from the principle district councils.

What has been achieved to date:

• The joint agencies have commissioned a State of the Environment assessment, due for completion in early February 2010. This information will help to set priorities and form the basis for discussion with the community.
• The agencies and NZ Landcare Trust have secured $350,000 of Ministry for the Environment funding to employ an independent co-ordinator to lead the community engagement role of the Kaimai Catchments Project.
• Both regional councils have included funding through their Ten Year Plans to contribute to the development and implementation of the project. Environment Bay of Plenty has allocated $500,000 over the next four years for catchment related work.
• A Management Agreement has been signed between the Kaimai Catchments Working Group and the NZ Landcare Trust to work together to achieve the key community milestones for the project.

What’s next:

• The proposed terms of reference for the Technical Advisory Group will be signed jointly by the East Coast Bay of Plenty Conservator and chief executives from Environment Bay of Plenty and Environment Waikato on 2nd February 2010.
• Workshops and meetings will be scheduled early this year with iwi, district councils and community stakeholders to discuss the findings of the State of the Environment report. From these workshops and meetings, community forums to discuss and agree to catchment priorities could be established.