Hawke's Bay biodiversity in critical state

Biodiversity Guardian Treasurer Kay Griffiths informing the crowd of what the launch was about. Photo/supplied

More than 200 people stepped up to stop any further loss of critically endangered biodiversity in Hawke's Bay.

Those who attended the action plan launch in Havelock North hailed from 60 different regional environmental groups, local authorities, government agencies and educational institutions.

The University of Waikato's Environmental Research Institute has signed up as the first corporate sponsor of the Biodiversity Guardians.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research Bruce Clarkson, said the signing signalled the University's commitment to working with the community to make a difference on the ground.

"To achieve what this action plan sets out, we have to move beyond revegetation in our urban centres such as Napier and Hastings."

"We must look at restoration of our biodiversity and the reconstruction of indigenous ecosystems," he said.

Biodiversity Hawke's Bay Foundation Chairman Charles Daugherty said that without determined intervention such as this, the loss of biodiversity will continue to get worse.

Hawke's Bay's iconic wetland environments are in the red zone, with urban indigenous biodiversity at an-all time low.

"Our forests are largely silent, many of the birds are gone. All indigenous ecological communities have been greatly reduced in scale and in consequence," Daugherty said.

Environmentalists are focusing on the silver lining; that the indigenous ecosystems of the region can be saved.

A three-year action plan will be implemented and overseen by the Biodiversity Guardians Board and the Biodiversity Foundation.

Guardian Chairwoman and Department of Conservation Operations Manager Connie Norgate, said the action plan has already begun, with the Guardians working to ensure its sustainability over the next three years.

"Many groups and individuals in Hawke's Bay are collaborating to take action to preserve our indigenous biodiversity. We need to increase our effort to turn the tide," she said.

The Guardians emphasised that the need to save Hawke's Bay's biodiversity was critical and required the support of partners, stakeholders, iwi and community.