New Zealand’s lead agency for ecosystem research: New Zealand’s unique indigenous biodiversity faces ongoing pressure from multiple threats. Our research provides insights into past ecosystems and deepens our understanding of how they function today, knowledge that is vital for reversing ecosystem degradation. We explore New Zealand’s resilience to shocks and quantify its societal value. We have unparalleled capability nationally to generate, synthesise and interpret data from the past and the present to help model and inform future predictions. We undertake work at a) varying spatial scales (national, regional to local site-based) and b) varying time scales (present day, decadal, centennial, to millennial) and integrating these to enable informed and resilient land management.
The Nationally Significant Collections and Databases that we host on behalf of New Zealand are an archive and a critical benchmark safeguarding New Zealand’s exports to global markets. Understanding what is here already makes it possible to track change, identify new threats, and avoid potential costs to producers, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), and New Zealand’s reputation and its environment. This also enables us to enhance taxonomy, and uncover new applications for biological materials. Our work drives innovative, science-based solutions that guide land management decisions and enhance long-term environmental and economic wellbeing.
