Landscape theory to applied landscape design in a New Zealand context

Abstract

The foundations of landscape ecology are well established and comprise vertical structure within a location; horizontal or spatial structure in terms of patch/node, corridor and matrix configuration; functional dynamics involving animal movement, propagules, material cycles and energy flows; and social interactions with the natural world. In continental regions, with long- established accommodation between autotrophs, herbivores and predator guilds, there are generally easily applied rules around the relationship between habitat area and species diversity, and between wildlife strategies and the edge to core ratio of habitat. In New Zealand these relationships are blurred because of the overwhelming impact of introduced competitors and predators on long-isolated, naïve biota. New Zealand continues to experience significant species loss, particularly within intensively developed agricultural landscapes with limited and fragmented supporting habitat or biological sources. At the same time, there is an increasing interest in habitat restoration among public institutions, communities, iwi, private landowners, landscape architects and students who seek guidance in their restoration efforts. This demand is outstripping the careful, empirical testing of best practice, especially when it comes to spatial considerations; yet we can’t really afford to wait for the definitive science given the urgency of the task. Here we accordingly describe a broad structural framework for restoring native biodiversity at the landscape level in New Zealand based upon collected publications and local ecological opinion to inform practitioners about basic principles of biodiversity restoration. These best practice rules will be refined and adapted as theory and practice converge.