Sediment-related water quality of small hill-country streams near Whatawhata, New Zealand. Response to integrated catchment management (ICM)

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Davies-Colley ◽  
Andrew Hughes
2014 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 163-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.B. Dodd ◽  
W. Carlson ◽  
P. Silcock

Abstract The Whatawhata integrated catchment management project generated a substantial amount of data on the biophysical impacts of land use and management change - livestock enterprise performance, terrestrial biodiversity, water quality etc. The question has been posed: What was the impact of the changes on the financial viability of the catchment farm system? Farm operating budgets before and after land use changes, enterprise gross margins, costs associated with tree planting, and farm system modelling with FarmaxPro® have been integrated to give a whole-system view of farm business viability over the long term (1995-2030). This information compared the existing system (1990s) with the new system implemented in 2000. Annual operating profit for the 296 ha breeding ewe and breeding cow system in the late 1990s was between $25 000-$30 000 reflecting the size and land use capability distribution of the block. Changes to the livestock enterprises improved farm surplus from ca. $100/ha to ca. $330/ha in the first 3 years, but on a reduced pastoral land area (150 ha). This gave an annual operating profit (EFS) of ca. $50 000. Much of this difference reflected product price movements. The cost of land use change was approximately $969 000 over the first 10 years. Selective intensification of hill lands can improve per ha profitability in the short-medium term. Two key financial issues, the transformation cost and medium term viability, need to be addressed in implementing land use change to move toward hill land sustainability. Keywords: integrated catchment management, land use change, sustainable hill country


2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Phillips ◽  
Will Allen ◽  
Andrew Fenemor ◽  
Breck Bowden ◽  
Roger Young

Integrative research projects are becoming more common and inherently face challenges that single-discipline or multi-disciplinary projects seldom do. It is difficult to learn what makes a successful integrative research project as many of these challenges and solutions often go unreported. Using the New Zealand Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) for the Motueka River research program, we reflect on the demands confronting research programs attempting to operate in an integrative interdisciplinary manner. We highlight seven key lessons that may help others learn of the benefits and difficulties that confront scientists and stakeholders involved in undertaking similar research. These are (1) clarify the goal and work with key people; (2) manage expectations; (3) agree on integrative concepts and face the challenge of epistemology; (4) leadership; (5) communication in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect; (6) acknowledge that different modes of learning mean that a wide range of knowledge products are needed; and (7) measure and celebrate success. The recognition that many environmental problems can only be solved through the creation of new knowledge and through social processes that engage the research and management domains has been a major benefit of the research program.


2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
P. Jagals ◽  
M. Griesel

Results showed that surface resource water quality in the study catchment was generally of a poor health-related microbiological water quality. This was due to poor quality discharges received from urban developments in the catchment. The quality results implied that several water uses in the catchment would impact negatively on the health of the users. Current developments in setting Resource Quality Objectives to manage the quality of the resources involved do not provide for the various water uses. The particular Catchment Management Agencies would, therefore, not be in a position to judge the health-related status of their surface water resource quality objectively. To alleviate this problem, tentative water-use classifications as well as microbiological criteria are proposed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. van Roon ◽  
S. Knight

The paper examines progress towards integrated catchment management and sustainable agriculture at Whaingaroa (Raglan), New Zealand. Application of the Canadian “Atlantic Coastal Action Program” model (ACAP) has been only partially successful within New Zealand's bicultural setting. Even before the introduction of the ACAP process there existed strong motivation and leadership by various sectors of the community. A merging of resource management planning and implementation processes of the larger community and that of the Maori community has not occurred. Research carried out by Crown Research Institutes has clearly shown the actions required to make pastoral farming more sustainable. There are difficulties in the transference to, and uptake of, these techniques by farmers. An examination of the socio-economic context is required. There has been a requirement on local government bodies to tighten their focus as part of recent reform. This has occurred concurrently with a widening of vision towards integrated and sustainable forms of management. This (as well as a clear belief in empowerment of local communities) has lead to Council reliance on voluntary labour. There is a need to account for the dynamic interaction between social and political history and the geological and biophysical history of the area. As part of a re-examination of sustainable development, New Zealand needs to reconcile the earning of the bulk of its foreign income from primary production, with the accelerating ecological deficit that it creates. A sustainability strategy is required linking consumer demand, property rights and responsibilities.


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