The restoration work will focus on the fragmented lowlands of the Motueka, Moutere and Riuwaka river catchments in Te Tai-o-Aorere, the Tasman District.

Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance and The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand aim to develop a restoration model that could be used across New Zealand, focusing on collaboration across whole river catchments for maximum benefit.

Reestablishing native cover over large areas could accelerate New Zealand’s climate response, preserve globally significant biodiversity and support healthy, thriving communities, says Nature Conservancy Interim Country Director and Conservation Director, Dr Erik van Eyndhoven.

Te Tauihu o te Waka-ā-Māui ki Kawatiri, the top of the South Island and the Kawatiri/Buller region, contains about 100,000 ha of lowlands, of which only one percent or less remains in native cover.

“These precious remnants are home to some of New Zealand’s most unique biodiversity, which is now threatened by pests, weeds, human activities and climate change," says van Eyndhoven

"TNC NZ and KMTT have worked together since 2021 to restore the biodiversity-rich lowland forests that once characterised the region’s landscapes, by planting trees and controlling weeds and pests to connect forests, river catchments and wetlands. This work needs innovative and cost-effective approaches to ensure a large and enduring impact.”

KMTT co-chairs Hemi Sundgren and Martin Rodd say nature itself is the key to building much-needed resilience.

“As climate volatility increases, restoring the natural ecosystems of these areas could help protect communities and wildlife, keeping water temperatures cooler in the heat and absorbing energy from flood events. We are thrilled to see TNC bringing their global expertise to support and build on the current work. Critically, TNC's focus on how to sustainably fund and deliver restoration could ensure the lessons we learn will benefit other catchments around the country, making New Zealand more resilient.”

"The community and manawhenua are already actively engaged and pursuing restoration throughout the catchments, and TNC and KMTT will work with them to build on what has been achieved. We acknowledge the manawhenua of the region as kaitiaki (guardians) of these river catchments and look forward to working closely with them during the project.”

The study will take nearly a year to complete. It will explore how best to restore native forest, wetlands and other native ecosystems using replanting and other land management techniques such as natural regeneration, while considering land use, ownership, and different stakeholder interests. Landowners and community groups will be able to contribute their knowledge and experience to help design workable solutions that support existing land uses.

The study will also explore ways to fund restoration work, including potential revenue from international voluntary carbon markets and biodiversity premiums/credits (also called nature markets).  

To support the study, TNC NZ and KMTT commissioned WSP to develop a spatial mapping model to show which lowland areas are the highest ecological priorities for native revegetation, taking into account geology, topography, and natural hazards. The model is available for use by KMTT partners.