Pūtaiao 24: Hive minds: Creating a buzz about our latest research.

Tena koe and welcome to issue 24 of Pūtaiao (Science), our quarterly publication showcasing the work of our scientists at the Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research Group.

Pūtaiao Issue 24. Hive minds: Creating a buzz with our latest research

Each issue of Pūtaiao shares the benefits and outcomes of our science in helping to ensure a sustainable, productive future for Aotearoa New Zealand. This issue focuses on science to enhance our biosecurity and biodiversity, our natural and productive landscapes and ecosystems.

We are Aotearoa New Zealand’s lead agency for ecosystem research. Natural ecosystems underpin our bioeconomy, which is of course is the economy: 13 of the country’s top 20 export commodities – more than 70 per cent of our entire export earnings – depend on natural resources. And 70% of our export value is derived from economies with mandatory climate or sustainability related disclosures in force or proposed. Land-based science that enables the restoration of ecosystems is not a luxury: it’s the protection of prosperity in systems increasingly vulnerable to external economic and climate-related shocks.

In a world in which hazards driven by biological invasions of pest species are growing in scale and cost faster than other types of natural hazard, we investigate how species and ecosystems respond to environmental changes and human activities, helping to inform biodiversity and land management plans and policies. Our science drives innovative solutions that guide management decisions and enhance long-term environmental and economic prosperity.

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 have unparalleled capability nationally to generate, synthesise and interpret data from the past and the present to help model and inform future predictions, boosting our resilience to climate-related and economic shocks.

We undertake research across varying spatial scales (national, regional, local site-based) and varying time scales (present day, decadal, centennial, to millennial) and integrate these to enable informed and resilient land management.

The Nationally Significant Collections and Databases that we host on behalf of Aotearoa New Zealand are an archive and a critical benchmark in safeguarding 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 indeed New Zealand’s reputation and its environment. The collections and databases, unlocked through the expertise of the researchers who work with them, enable the preservation and management of biosecurity and biodiversity, the discovery of new applications for biological materials, and directly support the resilience of Aotearoa New Zealand’s environment and bioeconomy.

To find out more about any of the stories, contact Dan Park on Parkdj@landcareresearch.co.nz

You may also like to sign up to our popular online webinar series LinkOnline, a series of webinars to share our science with stakeholders:
LinkOnline Webinar Series