What is the Transition Nelson Bio Capacity Group aiming to do?
The Biocapacity Group aims to re-establish useful, natural resources (materials and energy) for future generations and help restore biodiversity in the Nelson region through indigenous reforestation and other compatible afforestation projects. This will also create a “Carbon Sink” which allows individuals and businesses to offset carbon emissions locally. Biocapacity projects thus integrate key environmental and natural resource issues that are essential for the sustainable future of any community.
Which projects is the Bio Capacity Group involved in?
PAREMATA FLATS (Cable Bay) INDIGENOUS REFORESTATION PROJECT.
Key Outcomes of the project;
- Re-creating useful natural resources (materials and energy) for future generations.
- Restore native biodiversity
- Naturally sequester carbon above and below ground
- Will identify opportunities to produce bio char to enrich the soil, improve its water and nutrient storage and exchange capacity
- Offer local carbon offset opportunity to individuals and businesses
- The project will speed up the development of a mature forest with lots of high quality trees by careful selection of species. This Reforestation site will be managed as permanent canopy forest.
- There are opportunities for local businesses and individuals to fund this project via donations (Biocapacity Bonds), to help with planting and to offset carbon emissions.
- This planted indigenous forest will sequester more carbon per hectare than any other land-use category.
The Wakapuaka valley and this site (adjacent forest wetland DoC reserve) is also a top priority of Nelson Biodiversity forum's strategy.
This Biocapacity project site:
- Restores indigenous biodiversity of a river flats environment (LENZ classification, 2004) where native biodiversity is acutely threatened (red = less than 10 % remaining).
- The flats are accessible and more suitable as a research and demonstration pilot site for a wider range of native species.
- Reafforests more efficiently
- A wider range of potential funding sources can be tapped into to ensure pilot project funding continuity.
Progress
The Bio Capacity Group's Pilot project initiative was well received by the Mayor of Nelson, Kerry Marshall, who signed a letter of support for Ministry for the Environment funding and asked to be kept informed about project's progress. Nelson City Council Parks Manager Paul Mc Arthur has agreed in principle to support the project, both in kind and by making available suitable land owned by Nelson City Council.
An application has been made to the Ministry for the Environment to fund some of this project. We hope to hear by the end of June. We are now waiting on Nelson City Council confirmation about the incremental availability of the Paremata site for this biocapacity pilot, before following up funding opportunities from other sources via charitable Reciprocate Biocapacity Ltd.
Who do I Contact?
To join the Transition Nelson Bio Capacity Group, attend the next meeting or find out more about the group contact Helle Janssen at biocapacity@gmail.com
Further Information
Reciprocate Biocapacity Ltd. (NPO) www.lifecapacity.org
See also: www.bushvitality.org.nz