Single species conservation in new zealand: towards a redefined conceptual approach

Abstract

We summarise the magnitude of New Zealand's species conservation problems, seek a guiding philosophy from which to approach these problems, outline several ways by which species can be treated in a conservation context, and examine various approaches to species-oriented conservation. Using definitions in the Conservation Act 1987 we derive a goal statement for species conservation aimed at placing species into an ecological context: “to present species because of their role as part of a system of interacting organisms and their environment.” We suggest that the Department of Conservation mission statement “to conserve the natural (and historic) heritage of New Zealand for the benefit of present and future generations” be extended by “taking account of the processes that gave rise to and will perpetuate that heritage” and that this more dynamic statement become the explicit guiding philosophy for the Department's species conservation programmes. Public support for the huge task of conserving over 600 threatened species could be helped by viewing species as conservation units (target species and flagship species) as distinct from biological units (indicator species, keystone species and species guilds). To meet the looming crisis over expanding numbers of critically threatened species and finite resources and to improve cost-effective use of conservation funds, we suggest: (i) taking a strategic view of the species conundrum by developing long-term goals based upon an explicit guiding philosophy; (ii) complementing the ranking process with a triage analysis to identify species that cannot at present survive in the wild within their natural range, and seeking short-term solutions in preference to expensive in situ management for these “hopeless” cases; and (iii) viewing community restoration and habitat protection as complementary, not alternative, approaches to target species conservation. We provide a conservation strategy for kakapo as an example of our suggested approach. © Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.