NZ’s Biological Heritage Challenge projects announced

NZ’s Biological Heritage Challenge projects announced

Projects to tackle three of the biggest environmental issues facing New Zealand are about to get underway.

The projects are part of New Zealand’s Biological Heritage (NZBH) National Science Challenge. The challenge, hosted by Crown research institute Landcare Research, will see 21 organisations working together to reverse the decline of New Zealand’s biological heritage.

Newly appointed NZBH challenge director Dr Andrea Byrom said the three lead-off projects were designed to characterise existing organisms in New Zealand, combat new incursions and deal with legacy pests.

One of the projects, led by Landcare Research scientist Dr Robert Holdaway, aims to develop a national framework for measuring and monitoring the presence of native and introduced organisms using environmental DNA (eDNA) data. This will enable timely and accurate detection of biosecurity incursions, and better monitoring of New Zealand’s native biodiversity.

“To reverse the decline in New Zealand’s biological heritage we require tools to detect incursions, and to assess the state of biodiversity and ecosystem function in order to implement effective mitigation strategies and assess conservation performance. The integration of nationally-consistent eDNA methods with existing monitoring programmes will deliver a step change in biodiversity assessment,” Holdaway said.

The second project, led by Lincoln University scientist Professor Philip Hulme, aims to trace the movements of new organisms after a biosecurity incursion. This will be done by characterising the network of movements of unwanted organisms, which are often assisted by humans.

“New Zealand invests considerably in preventing pests crossing the border but post-border efforts to contain or eradicate pest incursion have received less attention. By examining the role humans play in disseminating pests through New Zealand our research will, for the first time, highlight the national invasion hotspots and the best means of preventing pest spread,” Hulme said.

In the first instance, the project will study livestock movements, tourist travel, plant nursery trade and recreational users of lakes.

The third project, led by scientist Professor Phil Lester of Victoria University, aims to combat a pest of national significance – wasps. Four novel technologies will be developed and trialled with the most promising of those further developed in future years of the project.

“Wasps are a great model for other invertebrate pests. We hope that the technologies developed for wasps will apply to pests such as ants, too,” Lester said.

Byrom was heavily involved in developing the challenge proposal as part of her role in managing Landcare Research’s invasive weeds, pests and diseases portfolio.

She said she was “delighted” to be chosen to lead the challenge following an international search.

“I’m excited to think that science can make a difference to the lives of everyday New Zealanders. Protecting New Zealand’s Biological Heritage is central to the culture and identity of this country.

“Science challenges build on a collaborative model and a new way of working with the research community, Māori, stakeholders, and the citizens of New Zealand.”

Byrom starts the role today, taking over from interim director University of Waikato Professor Bruce Clarkson.

ENDS

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