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RiVAS (and RiVAS+): Insights and lessons from 5 years' experience with the River Values Assessment System

Research Archive

RiVAS (and RiVAS+): Insights and lessons from 5 years' experience with the River Values Assessment System

Hughey, K.
Type: Conference Contribution - Published (Conference Paper)
Permalink: https://hdl.handle.net/10182/5202
Originally published: 2012-08 by New Zealand Agricultural and Resource Economics Society and available at http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/136047
Rights: Copyright by author(s). Readers may make copies of this document for non-commercial purposes only, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies
Keywords: River Values Assessment System (RiVAS); river values; multi criteria analysis; prioritisation; evaluation; New Zealand; Environmental Economics and Policy; Land Economics/Use

Abstract:

The River Values Assessment System (RiVAS and RiVAS+) are tools that enable regional councils and others to ‘objectively’ and systematically evaluate rivers in their regions for their relative importance across the range of river values (e.g., native birds, irrigation and tangata whenau). RiVAS (which assesses existing importance) has been applied to 11 values, and to a large number of these in each of three regions (Tasman, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay). RiVAS+ (restoration potential) has had limited application. There are multiple insights from these applications. First, RiVAS and RiVAS+ are highly cost effective. At around $6000 per value-application councils obtain: a collaborative approach resulting in stronger relationships between councils and stakeholder groups; up to date (and user friendly and accessible) information on value-related data often never collected otherwise; lists of rivers ranked according to national (high), regional (moderate) and low (importance) using the same method; indications of where the best prospects for restoration activities exist; and information that is immediately useful in the broader policy making processes. The paper reports also on the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities associated with ongoing application of the tool.

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