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System Title	5.6 Ecological Classification for the PNA Programme
Keywords	Protected natural areas programme, environmental classification, ecosystems, land systems, vegetation, New Zealand.
Description	The major levels used in the hierarchical ecological classification system associated with the protected natural areas programme are: Ecological unit: this is any combination of vegetation types plus the landform that it occurs on. E.g. mahoe forest on lowland hill country. Usually mapped at 1:50 000 scale. Land system: this is an area or group of areas throughout which there is a general coherence particularly in the land's physical attributes and recurring patterns of ecological units. They must be identifiable and mappable at a scale of 1:50 000. E.g. marine terrace. Ecological class: this is a combination of bioclimatic zone, physical environment and vegetation communities that described the broad ecological pattern within an ecological district. E.g. coastal forest on marine terrace. Ecological district: this is a part of New Zealand where geological, topographical, climatic and biological features and processes interrelate to produce a characteristic landscape and range of biological communities. There are 268 ecological districts. Their boundaries have been delineated by expert panels at 1:500 000 scale. Ecological region: this is a group of adjacent ecological districts with closely related characteristics. There are 85 ecological regions. Biogeographical province: this is a subdivision of the world based on major differences in plant and animal distribution and character of the vegetation. New Zealand is part of Neozelandia province. These levels represent an increasingly broad scale for defining ecological pattern. The ecological district forms the core of the system. 2-8 ecological districts have been surveyed each year since the mid 1980s. The survey procedure is detailed in Myers et al 1987. Once the remaining natural areas in an ecological district are identified and surveyed, Recommended Areas for Protection are selected. These are areas that best represent the ecological character and range of ecosystems and landscapes in the district. The location and description of Recommended Areas for Protection (RAPs) form the heart of a PNA programme survey report. These identified sites are starting point for the implementation of the programme.
Original Purpose	The PNA Programme is an initiative towards meeting the requirements of section 3(1)b of the Reserves Act. That section of the Act identifies the need to establish an ecologically representative protected natural areas system. The ecological classification system was specifically designed for the PNA Programme. There is flexibility in the system to ensure that the most appropriate method for describing the ecological character of a district is chosen.
Status	Ecological regions and districts were developed by the Biological Resources Centre in 1981. A technical advisory group was convened by the Centre in 1982 to develop a scientific survey methodology for the programme. Pilot surveys tested the draft methodology in 1983/84. The standard reference (Myers et al,1987) is the fourth approximation of the methodology which includes the ecological classification system.
Organisation	Department of Conservation (since 1987)
Jurisdiction	New Zealand
Contact person/position	Paul Mahoney Senior Technical Support Officer
Address	Central Regional Office DOC Box 12 416 Wellington Phone +64 4 499 2300 Fax +64 4 499 2301 Email: pmahoney@doc.govt.nz
Available format	Published reports
Access	Freely available
Geographical coverage	New Zealand

 

Operational Specifications
Scale of Operation	Varies depending on the level chosen. Ecological units and land systems are usually mapped at 1:50,000 scale
GIS Compatibility	Requires accurate location data defining boundaries as well as centre points. Much of the older data collected using the ecological district framework does not define the polygon corners of the RAPs.
Relationship between levels in the classification system	Hierarchical relationship
Contributing databases/classification systems	Relevant data from the Sites of Special Wildlife Interest Database are used as part of the survey methodology. Information on the biological and geomorphic attributes of existing protected areas and unprotected areas is used where it is available.
Contributing database GIS compatibility	Historically the contributing databases have generally not been digitised.
Relationship with other classification systems and spatial frameworks.	The ecological classification system for PNA programme survey incorporates Atkinson's vegetation classification system and a modified form of bioclimatic zones. A variety of land systems classifications are used, including that developed by Whitehouse et al for the Eastern Southern Alps.
Relationship with other databases	Some PNA Programme survey data is included within the National Vegetation Survey Database (Landcare Research).

 

Current and emerging use for:
Assisting with determining historic state/ baseline	This classification system can be used to provide some guidance on historical baselines.
Assisting with determining current state/ baseline	This classification system is used to describe current terrestrial ecological pattern.
Asssisting with scenario building and modelling of possible futures	Limited
Risk Assesment	The classification system can be used to identify where the protected area network is not sufficiently representative of the biological diversity remaining.
Monitoring site selection and sample design	This classification system provides a number of levels for stratifying sampling.
Interpreting results (including variation)	The system provides a comprehensive way to assess the adequacy of the network of areas protecting terrestrial biodiversity.
Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally and/or nationally	Terrestrial biodiversity information can be aggregated and reported at the local, ecological district or ecological region level. National reporting would be possible if information was systematically collected for all ecological districts. That is not currently the case.

Current use (who,level,why)

The Protected Natural Areas Programme and its associated ecological classification system has been extensively used by the Department of Conservation since 1987. The PNA Programme has been supported by the Department because it is seen to be a systematic and relatively rigorous way to identify priorities for protection. Even so many conservationists consider that funding levels have been too low as many ecological districts remain unsurveyed.

Some councils(e.g. Auckland Regional Council, Waitakere City Council and Rotorua District Council) fund or partly fund biological surveys of ecological districts using PNA programme methodology.

A number of councils, especially in the Auckland Region use ecological districts as a planning framework. Specific uses include using ecological districts as a basis for identifying representative and other significant terrestrial ecosystems; sourcing genetically appropriate species for restoration work; and preparing open space strategies. Some councils use information collected from PNA programme surveys. This information is sometimes included in Resource Management Act plans and policies where it may be associated with rules. This has been controversial in a number of districts.

User friendliness/public and decision maker understanding

The methodology for using the full ecological classification system has been well documented. Its application varies between surveys.

For most of the public it is the ecological district and region that is important. The other parts of the framework are generally not known/understood. The exception could be the ecological unit descriptor for specific sites.

System strengths

• The ecological classification system for the PNA programme is logical and links biological and physical factors.
• It is hierarchical and so information can be reported at different scales.
• The classification system (and variations to it) has been widely used in New Zealand.
• The ecological regions and districts component of the classification system is particularly well-known and widely used.
• Ecological districts have been incorporated into many planning documents prepared under a variety of legislation. They are also the framework of choice for terrestrial biodiversity for some agencies.

Current limitations of system

• The classification system is usually implemented with a terrestrial focus.
• The ecological region and district component of the classification system has been discredited in some circles. This is largely because information collected using ecological districts has been used for purposes beyond that for which it was originally intended.
• The outcome of a PNA programme survey is a series of Recommended Areas for Protection. This focus and name has inhibited the acceptance of the PNA Programme and the framework in some rural areas.
• Information has not been collected about all ecological regions and districts. It is not possible to use the framework to report nationally on the natural representatives of terrestrial protected areas at this stage.
• The ecological district boundaries were not defined using repeatable quantifiable methodology. Instead the boundaries were defined by panels of experts. While some boundaries are readily definable (for example they are based on geological or climate boundaries) other boundaries are arbitrary and non-repeatable. These latter boundaries are difficult to defend in comparison with boundaries that are determined using modelling and quantitative data.
• One criticism that has been made about using ecological districts as the unit for determining representativeness for terrestrial biodiversity relates to the high degree of heterogeneity found within ecological districts. Ecological community one may be rare in ecological district C but common in adjoining district D. The representativeness criteria (applied at the ecological district level)would require that the small area in district C be protected, irrespective of the amount protected in adjoining district D.

References

Myers,S.C.; Park,G.N.; Overmas,F.B. 1987. The New Zealand Protected Natural Areas Programme: a Guidebook for the Rapid Ecological Survey of natural areas. New Zealand Biological Resources Centre publication No. 6. Department of Conservation: Wellington.

Whitehouse, I.E.; Basher,L.R.; Tonkins,P.J. 1992. A landform classification for PNA survey in eastern Southern Alps. Science and Research Series No 44. Department of Conservation: Wellington. 41p.

Numerous PNA programme survey reports which can be found in Department of Conservation libraries. Examples include:

Breese, E.D.; Timmins, S.M.; Garrick, A.S.; Owen, J.M.; Jane, G.T. 1986. Kaikoura Ecological Region - survey report for the Protected Natural Areas Programme. New Zealand Protected Natural Areas Programme No. 5. Department of Lands and Survey: Wellington. 113p

Brumley, G.F.; Stirling, M.W.; Manning, M.S. 1986. Old Man Ecological District - survey report for the Protected Natural Areas Programme. New Zealand Protected Natural Areas Programme No 3. Department of Lands and Survey: Wellington. 174p