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System Title |
4.2 Land Systems |
|---|---|
| Keywords | land systems; geology; lithology; tectonics; climate; biota; characteristic assemblage |
| Description | Land Systems units are derived by expert opinion, using information on:
The basic assumption is that similar geology together with tectonics and climate will give rise to a characteristic assemblage of landforms and soils resulting in a typical pattern of natural vegetation. These landscape patterns are identified as land systems units. Their boundaries are depicted (mapped) by hand. |
| Status | The concept of depicting land systems was developed in Australia in c.1940's,
although in 1927 work on the soils of the South Island led to the identification
of 'soil sets' which provide a land system style of identifying units of land.
In 1994 Ian Lynn and Len Basher of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research published a paper 'Principles underlying land systems in resource assessment of hill and mountain lands in New Zealand'. Lucas Associates together with Ian Lynn of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research have since prepared land system classifications for 5 territorial authorities and 2 regional councils. (See geographical coverage below). |
| Jurisdiction | Specific to client agencies. |
| Contact person/position& Address | Di Lucas Lucas Associates Ian Lynn. Manaaki Whenua Landcare |
| Available format | The systems are depicted by hand. The boundaries may then be digitised onto GIS to produce digital and hard copy maps. Arc/Info GIS software. |
| Access | Agencies can contract Lucas Associates to develop a Land Systems classification for their geographical area of interest. Access will depend upon contract specifications. |
| Geographical coverage | As at August 1999 the following areas had been described using Land Systems:
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Operational Specifications |
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|---|---|
| Scale of Operation | Land systems can be delineated at a range of scales. For example:
|
| GIS Compatibility | Yes - where digitized |
| Relationship between levels in the classification system | No hierarchy |
| Contributing databases/classification systems | Information on:
|
| Contributing database GIS compatibility | Provided data sets are geo-referenced then the data can be incorporated into GIS. Whether or not this has occurred is area specific. |
| Relationship with other classification systems and spatial frameworks. | Ecological Regions/Districts are sometimes draped over the Land Systems
and used to depict consistent boundaries where appropriate.
See Environment Bay of Plenty Framework For Monitoring Ecological Integrity. |
| Relationship with other databases | N/A |
Current and emerging use for: |
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|---|---|
| Assisting with determining historic state/ baseline | Indigenous Vegetation:
|
| Assisting with determining current state/ baseline | Landscape:
|
| Asssisting with scenario building and modelling of possible futures | No |
| Risk Assesment | Unknown |
| Monitoring site selection and sample design | Possible - needs investigation |
| Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally and/or nationally | Can report for the area classified but the depiction of Land Systems relies on expert opinion. This implies it could be difficult to achieve a nationally consistent framework. |
Current use (who,level,why)
Landscape identification to provide a basis for communication and guidance about land management:
- Waimakariri Basin;
- Canterbury Regional Council 1994 - 44 regional land types (24 lowland and 20 high country).
Input into district plans:
- Queenstown Lakes District Council 1995 - Scale: 1:250 000 & 1:50 000 for areas of particular interest
- Marlborough District Council - 1997 - Marlborough Resource Management Plan Scale: 1:250 000 & 1:50 000.
- Waitomo District - Scale: 1:100 000
- Hurunui District Council 1995
- Selwyn District Council 1995
Guiding restoration planting and educating and informing people as to what naturally belongs:
- Waitakere City Council 1996;
- Christchurch City Council 1998.
Monitoring framework for ecological integrity:
- Environment Bay of Plenty 1999 - Scale: 1:250,000. Scales of 1:50 000, 1:25 000 and 1:10 000 for specific areas of interest. Regional maps depicting Land Systems, Ecological Regions and Districts, Bio-climatic Zones; 1840 vegetation; 1840 Vegetation without Human Modification; 1996 Landcover have been produced at 1:500 000.
Decision making on resource consent applications.
User friendliness/public and decision maker understanding
- Excellent communication tool for community, resource managers and decision makers, i.e. can make things more easily accessible.
System strengths
- No need to undertake detailed data gathering everywhere - i.e. have a framework to gather more data where necessary.
- Excellent communication tool for community, resource managers and decision makers, i.e. can make things more easily accessible.
- Maximises use of existing databases.
- Allows for community input and localised interpretation.
- User friendly.
Current limitations of system
- Subjective - consistency can be a problem as the depiction of Land System units relies on the background knowledge of the people involved.
- It may therefore be difficult end up with a nationally consistent system.
- For most of New Zealand there is only basic data sets at 1:250 000.
- The contributing data sets are better in some areas than in others.
References
Lucas Associates. 1995. Indigenous Ecosystems an Ecological Plan Structure for the Lakes District. A report to the Queenstown Lakes District Council;
Lucas Associates. Marlborough Sounds Land & Marine Ecosystems
Lucas Associates. Indigenous Ecosystems of Otautahi Christchurch
Lucas Associates & Meurk, C. 1996. Streamside Planting. Guidelines for native planting alongside streams in Christchurch
Lucas Associates, Lynn, I. & Wildland Consultants Ltd. 1998. A Framework for Monitoring Ecological Integrity in the Bay of Plenty Region
Hall, A., Ngapo, N., Parkes, E. & Pemberton, G. 1998. Sustainable Land Management in the Bay of Plenty Region: Proposed Framework for Monitoring Soil Intactness and Soil Health. Environment Bay of Plenty Operations Report 98/11 December 1998.