Navigating Planting Potential in Taranaki.
The Context
This ecological project is a collaborative effort aimed at restoring the natural biodiversity of the Taranaki region in Aotearoa New Zealand. It involves multiple community and iwi-based partners working to revive native ecosystems and manage the landscape sustainably.
| User | Taranaki Mounga Project |
| Location | Taranaki, Aotearoa New Zealand |
| Eco-index Solutions | Navigator Navigator X |
| Project Partners | Imaginal Seeds Trust Te Mauri o Te Taiao Trust |
| Date | 2023 - ongoing |
The Challenge
The Taranaki Mounga Project aims to restore the ecological vitality of the Taranaki region, encompassing the mountain, ranges, and islands. They work in collaboration with 8 Taranaki iwi, DoC and the community to transform the area by removing pests, reintroducing native species, and strengthening existing threatened species populations. A significant challenge for Taranaki Mounga Project has been determining where to focus reconstruction efforts to achieve the most substantial ecological impact, especially in areas where native ecosystems have been lost.
The Solution
Eco-index developed Navigator, a GIS-based tool designed to identify optimal locations for reconstructing native ecosystems based on Priorities set by the user. By analysing various national environmental datasets, the tool highlights areas where ecosystem reconstruction efforts would yield the highest biodiversity benefits.
Dr. Kiri Joy Wallace, Eco-index Co-Director, explains, "Navigator helps people to identify the best 'bang-for-buck' places to reconstruct native ecosystems from scratch. We've designed our tools to help land managers maximise the chance of improving their local biodiversity while effectively using their precious time and resources." (taranakimounga.nz)
Taranaki Mounga Project were able to customise their view of Navigator to assess their areas of interest without considering Riparian and areas
Navigator X is the browser-based version of Navigator, allowing users to fly and zoom through their area of interest in a similar style to Google Earth.
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