New Guide to Freshwater Management launched

Saturday, 2 October 2010, 12:08 pm
Press Release: Environmental Defence Society

New Guide to Freshwater Management launched

The Minister for the Environment, Hon Dr Nick Smith, today launched a new publication titled Managing Freshwater: An EDS Guide. The Guide is published by the Environmental Defence Society and is co-authored by EDS Senior Policy Analyst Raewyn Peart and EDS lawyers Kate Mulcahy and Natasha Garvan.

The Guide describes how human activities are impacting on New Zealand's rivers, lakes, aquifers and wetlands. It explains how these impacts are currently managed. It also identifies how members of the public can become involved in decision-making processes to seek better environmental outcomes for freshwater.

"New Zealand has a diverse range of spectacular freshwater bodies including fast flowing mountain streams, extensive braided river systems, slow meandering rivers and numerous lakes," said the publication's co-author Raewyn Peart.

"These freshwater systems are extremely valuable to New Zealand. They play a crucial role in supporting the economy and in providing essential ecosystem services. They also have very high cultural and recreational values.

"Freshwater is coming under increasing pressure, particularly from urban and agricultural activities. Many lowland rivers and lakes are polluted, numerous indigenous freshwater species are moving towards extinction and freshwater has been over-allocated in some regions.

"It is essential that these growing pressures are managed more effectively. This Guide is designed to help achieve this. Its purpose is to promote greater awareness of the issues and the adoption of better approaches to freshwater management.

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"The recently released report of the Land and Water Forum recommends reforms to New Zealand's freshwater management. We will be updating the Guide, once any reforms are implemented, to ensure it remains current," concluded Ms Peart.

The launch was held at the Resource Management Law Association conference in Christchurch.

The Guide can be downloaded free from eds.org.nz. It has been produced with support from the Ministry for the Environment, Environment Canterbury, Meridian Energy, Metrowater, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society Incorporated, the ASB Community Trust and the Lion Foundation.

ENDS

Environmental Defence Society

EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.

Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non- profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.

EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.

EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.

EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.