3504
New Zealand Journal of Ecology (2023) 47(1): 3504

Bradley S. Case
1*
Adam S. Forbes
2
Margaret C. Stanley
3
Graham Hinchliffe
1
David A. Norton
2
Febyanna Suryaningrum
1
Rebecca Jarvis
1
David Hall
4
Hannah L. Buckley
1
  1. Te Kura Pūtaiao | School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland
  2. Te Kura Ngahere | School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch
  3. Te Kura Mātauranga Koiora | School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland
  4. Te Kura Pūtaiao ā-iwi me ngā Kaupapa Tūmatanui | School of Social Science and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland
*  Corresponding author
Abstract

The incorporation of native, woody vegetation into New Zealand’s agricultural ecosystems offers a “nature-based solution” approach for mitigating poor environmental outcomes of land use practices, biodiversity loss, and the accelerating effects of climatic change. However, to achieve this at scale requires a systematic framework for scoping, assessing, and targeting native revegetation opportunities in a way that addresses national-scale priorities, supports landscape-scale ecological processes, and recognises that land use decisions are made at farm-scales by landowners. In this forum discussion, we outline the requirements for a spatial decision support system for native revegetation; we provide illustrations of national-, landscape-, and farm-scale components of this framework and outline a range of organisational, societal, and scientific challenges that must be addressed to enable effective and targeted revegetation across the country. Our primary motivation is to provide a focus for discussions among scientists, policy makers, hapū, iwi, landowners, communities, and other interested parties who are invested in restoring biodiverse and resilient agroecosystems.