EnviroStrat has developed the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for the Waikato Region. This applies the global community protocol methodology. Revisiting the inventory in 2020 is going to provide a breakdown of emissions for each district within the Region, which will inform both regional and local responses to climate change.
EnviroStrat successfully led the response of New Zealand’s largest tribe to a proposal for deep sea phosphate mining on the Chatham Rise, NZ. Developed and executed a strategy to refute the evidence presented by the applicant through a 3 month hearing process, including engaging and managing experts in economics, ecology, ecotoxicology, planning, and international best practice. There were a number of unresolved issues, including the impact on existing fisheries and cultural interests, the need for adaptive management in the context of very large infrastructure development, restoration techniques using the precautionary principle, and the reliance of modelling as a proxy for…
EnviroStrat was commissioned by Rotorua Economic Development to lead market research to better understand the opportunities and challenges for establishing a local food economy in Rotorua.
Led a feasibility study for an environmental and outdoor education centre designed for providing youth a long-stay, off grid (4-6 weeks) experience on Great Barrier Island. The long term operating model identified a financially feasible approach that aligned with all stakeholders and presented an attractive option for schools and other groups.
EnviroStrat led the development and testing of the prototype of a bycatch-free fish trap. The trap is designed to improve the selectivity of commercial fishing by eliminating bycatch of non-target species and juvenile fish, and removes risk to seabirds, and impacts on marine mammals. EnviroStrat thoroughly investigated the feasibility of the device and carried out a trial of the prototype in the Leigh Harbour lasting 5 months to test its effectiveness in meeting the success criteria for the project. A number of challenges with the design aspects of the prototype were identified and solutions to fix these were provided to…
EnviroStrat prepared the Investment Case for an open ocean 1,200 ha Mussel Spat Farm off 90 Mile Beach for three far north tribes and the aquaculture sector to address a critical risk to future growth of the mussel sector. EnviroStrat worked with the three tribes, industry, stakeholders, and MPI, as well as potential investors throughout the process. The investment case involved strategic assessment, consideration of social, environmental, cultural and economic factors, detailed financial modelling, legal analysis and engineering design.
EnviroStrat led a study, funded by Foundation North, into the feasibility of impact investment to provide the pathway to a high value, low impact seafood sector in the Hauraki Gulf. This included several elements of the fishery sector; shelving fishing quota, converting the current trawling fleet to more sustainable methods, development of high value salt water fishing tourism, development of fin fish aquaculture, and the creation of a sustainable fishery brand for the Hauraki Gulf.
Programme co-ordinator for TEEF since January 2018. The Co-ordinator facilitates the development of new projects including assistance with funding applications, project identification, relationship management, and project oversight with the aim of helping the forum to achieve its goals.
As part of the National Government freshwater reforms, EnviroStrat ran a team of economists, scientists and social scientists with an overall budget of several million dollars developing a series of integrated economic models to assess the implications of different policy scenarios across a range of uses of fresh water. EnviroStrat’s role was highly complex and involved managing >35 contracts in excess of $2.5M. The programme was run in a series of joint ventures between local councils, sector groups and central government agencies (MPI, MFE, DOC), and linking science, policy, and economics with government decision making. The ability to synthesise multiple…
EnviroStrat was appointed by the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO as lead author of a cross-UN paper Blueprint for Ocean Sustainability – the core UN Oceans policy paper leading to the 2012 Rio+20 Global Environmental Summit. This paper provided the UN Oceans agencies with a succinct summary of the current issues and problems in the world’s oceans and identified ten proposals for future action that were intended to galvanise both UN agencies and member states at the recent Rio+20 Conference. Photo from the Earth as Art series, thanks to the USGS EROS Center.
EnviroStrat was engaged by Te Runanga o Ng?i Tahu to prepare a restoration strategy for Te Waihora and surrounding catchment, as current approaches that rely on government grants are not having the required impact on the highly impacted estuarine lake and catchment. EnviroStrat identified innovative approaches to monetising and scaling restoration through payment for ecosystem services including carbon forestry, trialling blue carbon within the lake, use of freshwater / brackish macroalgae for nutrient removal, wetland creation for both water quality and biodiversity impact, as well as environmental impact investment.
EnviroStrat was commissioned by ESR to review its food and water activities and how they contribute to ESR’s core purpose and key outcomes; in particular, providing scientific capacity for New Zealand on a financially and scientifically sustainable basis. EnviroStrat identified four key issues for the organisation: strategic direction; customer centricity; internal engagement; and delivering results. EnviroStrat developed a number of recommendations for ESR to fix the identified issues and improve overall performance.
EnviroStrat was commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes achieved from each of seven projects funded through the Fresh Start for Fresh Water Clean-up Fund. EnviroStrat reviewed the projects in detail and produced a number of recommendations so that future funding is more effectively used to achieve the objectives of each project and the overall programme.
EnviroStrat was appointed by DOC to review the current status of the Campbell Island Marine Reserve under the Sub Antarctic Islands Marine Reserve Act 2014. EnviroStrat provided a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation that it should be extended beyond its current boundaries to incorporate the entire Campbell Island Territorial Sea.
EnviroStrat was asked by the Hauraki Gulf Forum to review whether the Forum was effectively promoting the objectives of part one of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Act 2000 and identify changes that could be made to help the Forum achieve these objectives. EnviroStrat identified the successes and failures from the Hauraki Gulf Forum and concluded that the Forum was failing to adequately promote the objectives of the Act. EnviroStrat then developed a total of 22 recommendations for the Forum to follow to better achieve the objectives of the Act and ensure the overall health of the Hauraki Gulf is sustained.
The Waip? catchment is a significant contributor to the sediment and nutrient load of the Waikato and Waip? River catchments. Waikato River Authority and Waikato Regional Council catalysed and funded a feasibility study to investigate whether impact investing could enable accelerated land use and/or land cover change to achieve multiple environmental and social benefits, whilst delivering a positive financial return. The project built on the environmental enhancement projects that have been identified and prioritised through the Waikato River and Waip? River Restoration Strategy and the priorities identified in the Waip? Catchment Plan and Healthy Rivers Plan Change. Traditional solutions to mitigate and improve…
One of the initial priorities of the 2008 National Government following its election was the establishment of a new entity to provide for a more rapid and effective delivery of national significant resource consent proposals than had been occuring under the Resource Management Act. EnviroStrat was retained to project manage the Ministry for the Environment team establishing an Environmental Protection Authority within MfE Successful launch of the EPA occurred with all main requirements in place for day one of operation. Specifically, EnviroStrat Created and implemented the plan of attack to ensure delivery to time, cost and quality requirements Managed the…
