The Environmental Defence Society has released its review of the Conservation Management Planning System, calling for urgent reform. Co-authored by Dr Deidre Koolen-Bourke, Raewyn Peart, Bronwyn Wilde and Tracey Turner, the report reviews the adequacy of the legislation and policy settings, statutory planning documents, concessions system and institutional arrangements for managing the conservation estate. 

“Many conservation planning documents are outdated, poorly implemented and lack the necessary resourcing to make them work,” says Dr Koolen-Bourke.  

A particular focus of the review was compliance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. The authors found that key planning documents failed to incorporate Treaty principles adequately or set clear objectives and milestones.

Of further concern were the challenges faced by national parks of increasing visitor numbers, new technologies like e-bikes and drones, and climate change impacts.

A copy of the report is here.

More information: Dr Deidre Koolen-Bourke 021 1391031 deidre@eds.org.nz

Image: EDS