Taranaki Biodiversity Priorities Forum discussion report

Abstract

On February 26th 2016 the Taranaki Biodiversity forum for regional priority setting was attended by around 75 people who represented Taranaki Biodiversity Trust members and interested parties. The objective of the forum was to identify priority areas for, and approaches to, the protection and enhancement of native biodiversity in the Taranaki region on a landscape scale. These priorities will inform and direct the work of the Taranaki Biodiversity Trust members. The forum discussions were framed by the four following focus questions and responses were analysed using a basic framework analysis. 1. What are our priority places/locations in Taranaki? 2. What types of ecosystems are a priority in Taranaki? 3. Where and how can we make connections? 4. Project ideas The number of recorded responses for each question ranged from 28 to 96 with many common themes. The key recommendation from analysis of these responses is that the Taranaki Biodiversity Trust coordinates a regional, collaborative project that protects and enhances native biodiversity in a range of ecosystems, links existing projects across the landscape, and connects with local people and communities.