Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigation

Tree planting has long played a major role in the New Zealand Government’s approach to climate mitigation and is increasingly understood as important for climate adaptation. However, large-scale tree planting in Aotearoa New Zealand has been dominated by exotic species. Although there is growing pub...

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Main Authors: Hannah L. Buckley, David Hall, Rebecca M. Jarvis, Valance Smith, Leilani A. Walker, Jeff Silby, Graham Hinchliffe, Margaret C. Stanley, Aileen P. Sweeney, Bradley S. Case
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Forests and Global Change
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.950041/full
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author Hannah L. Buckley
David Hall
Rebecca M. Jarvis
Valance Smith
Leilani A. Walker
Jeff Silby
Graham Hinchliffe
Margaret C. Stanley
Aileen P. Sweeney
Bradley S. Case
author_facet Hannah L. Buckley
David Hall
Rebecca M. Jarvis
Valance Smith
Leilani A. Walker
Jeff Silby
Graham Hinchliffe
Margaret C. Stanley
Aileen P. Sweeney
Bradley S. Case
author_sort Hannah L. Buckley
collection DOAJ
description Tree planting has long played a major role in the New Zealand Government’s approach to climate mitigation and is increasingly understood as important for climate adaptation. However, large-scale tree planting in Aotearoa New Zealand has been dominated by exotic species. Although there is growing public and expert support for using native species for forest revegetation in farm landscapes, there are two key barriers. First, the lack of ecological and economic data on native species performance in different environmental conditions. Second, policy and market-related mechanisms associated with carbon sequestration, such as the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, favor the continuing use of exotic tree species, especially Pinus radiata, over native species. Consequently, there are strong incentives for exotic forests and insufficient financial support for natives, even when native forest re-establishment is often the preference of landowners, Indigenous peoples, and local communities. The AUT Living Laboratories Program is a long-term, transdisciplinary, experimental restoration research program aimed at addressing scientific, social, and economic knowledge gaps for native revegetation as a Nature-based Solution (NbS) on farmland soils. Here, we present the project design and establishment information from the three experimental restoration sites, which vary in native species composition, planting configuration, and environmental and socio-cultural context. Each site involves partnerships with Indigenous communities, specifically Ngāti Whātua  Ōrākei, Ngāti Manuhiri, and Ngāti Pāoa, to value and embed mātauranga Māori as Indigenous knowledge. Monitoring carbon sequestration along with changes in ecological functions and outcomes, including native biodiversity, will be critical to ensure that large-scale tree-planting aligns with the government’s strategies for climate change, native biodiversity, and economic prosperity.
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spelling doaj.art-08d6dd89a6e242998394162a4f99b6912023-01-10T12:38:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2023-01-01510.3389/ffgc.2022.950041950041Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigationHannah L. Buckley0David Hall1Rebecca M. Jarvis2Valance Smith3Leilani A. Walker4Jeff Silby5Graham Hinchliffe6Margaret C. Stanley7Aileen P. Sweeney8Bradley S. Case9School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandTe Ara Poutama, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandCentre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandTree planting has long played a major role in the New Zealand Government’s approach to climate mitigation and is increasingly understood as important for climate adaptation. However, large-scale tree planting in Aotearoa New Zealand has been dominated by exotic species. Although there is growing public and expert support for using native species for forest revegetation in farm landscapes, there are two key barriers. First, the lack of ecological and economic data on native species performance in different environmental conditions. Second, policy and market-related mechanisms associated with carbon sequestration, such as the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, favor the continuing use of exotic tree species, especially Pinus radiata, over native species. Consequently, there are strong incentives for exotic forests and insufficient financial support for natives, even when native forest re-establishment is often the preference of landowners, Indigenous peoples, and local communities. The AUT Living Laboratories Program is a long-term, transdisciplinary, experimental restoration research program aimed at addressing scientific, social, and economic knowledge gaps for native revegetation as a Nature-based Solution (NbS) on farmland soils. Here, we present the project design and establishment information from the three experimental restoration sites, which vary in native species composition, planting configuration, and environmental and socio-cultural context. Each site involves partnerships with Indigenous communities, specifically Ngāti Whātua  Ōrākei, Ngāti Manuhiri, and Ngāti Pāoa, to value and embed mātauranga Māori as Indigenous knowledge. Monitoring carbon sequestration along with changes in ecological functions and outcomes, including native biodiversity, will be critical to ensure that large-scale tree-planting aligns with the government’s strategies for climate change, native biodiversity, and economic prosperity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.950041/fulltree plantingexperimental restorationclimate change mitigationclimate adaptationcommunity engagementecosystem function
spellingShingle Hannah L. Buckley
David Hall
Rebecca M. Jarvis
Valance Smith
Leilani A. Walker
Jeff Silby
Graham Hinchliffe
Margaret C. Stanley
Aileen P. Sweeney
Bradley S. Case
Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigation
Frontiers in Forests and Global Change
tree planting
experimental restoration
climate change mitigation
climate adaptation
community engagement
ecosystem function
title Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigation
title_full Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigation
title_fullStr Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigation
title_full_unstemmed Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigation
title_short Using long-term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve implementation of Nature-based Solutions for climate change mitigation
title_sort using long term experimental restoration of agroecosystems in aotearoa new zealand to improve implementation of nature based solutions for climate change mitigation
topic tree planting
experimental restoration
climate change mitigation
climate adaptation
community engagement
ecosystem function
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.950041/full
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