NZ is 22nd not 2nd on list of world Conservation Hotspots

NZ is 22nd not 2nd on list of world Conservation Hotspots

In the last couple of days, we have seen headlines such as “NZ Hotspot: #2 in Conservation International’s World’s 10 Most Threatened Forest Hotspots." Within the NZ Institute of Forestry members became very concerned, particularly with the comment "Habitat destruction, through deforestation and wetland drainage, is also a key problem with only five percent of the original habitat remaining.” We started checks on the number. The Ministry for the Environment advised that 30.2% of New Zealand supported natural forest, while "forestry facts and figures" shows that 24% of New Zealand is in natural forest. Given that forest is not the only original habitat in New Zealand, I contacted Conservation International to ask them where their data came from. This morning I have received the following:

"We investigated further the sources of our numbers and noticed a mistake. New Zealand is not #2 in the list of the world’s most threatened forest hotspots. It is #22 in the ranking. The original forest cover was 270,197 sq. km, and the remaining habitat is 59,443, so 22 percent of the original habitat remains. The predominant vegetation type is temperate broadleaf and mixed forests.

We understand this is a serious mistake and apologize for the inconvenience this might have caused you. We are in the process of issuing a correction of our press release."

I found it alarming that the New Zealand media and others, including political parties, ran stories highlighting the number 2 ranking, without apparently bothering to check details that at least some of those concerned should have queried before rushing into print.

It is important to realise that one of the criteria for entry to Conservation International's list of hotspots is that the region needs to have "at least 1,500 endemic plant species". An endemic species is one that is restricted to a certain region or part of a region. So countries or regions with this number of endemic species are likely to be biologically rich (more common on tropical and sub-tropical regions) and also more isolated than other regions. On this count alone, it is not surprising that New Zealand is listed in the 34 hotspots. The other important criteria is that "the region has lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat extent". According to Conservation International's analysis, the correct figure for New Zealand is that it has lost 22% of its original habitat, not 5%.

I believe that the error is quite significant in terms of New Zealand's reputation. I have asked Conservation International to issue an apology to New Zealand. I also hope that media people and political parties receiving this email also take steps to issue statements correcting their earlier stories.

Andrew McEwen
President
New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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