Geothermal ecosystems and the biodiversity monitoring framework: a review with recommendations

Report: TR 2024/03

Authors: Sarah Beadel, Chris Bycroft, Jo McQueen, Matthew Renner (Wildland Consultants Ltd)

Wildland Consultants were commissioned by Waikato Regional Council to augment a report prepared by Landcare Research on ‘Standardised methods to report changes in the ecological integrity of sites managed by regional councils'. Geothermal habitats were among those deemed ‘ecosystems dangerous to sample’, and while the report provided some guidance about what might be useful indicators of ecological integrity, no recommendations on monitoring methods in dangerous ecosystems were made. Instead, the report urged further work to ‘develop appropriate means to quantify changes in ecological integrity of sites that are dangerous to sample’ (Bellingham et al. 2021: 32).

Waikato Regional Council is responsible for the largest area of geothermal habitat of any of the sixteen regional and unitary councils within Aotearoa/New Zealand and wishes to provide more input into the development of standardised monitoring for geothermal ecosystems.

Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research are continuing to develop standard monitoring methods for different ecosystem types within the context of a biodiversity monitoring framework, and an opportunity exists to provide a ‘module’ for geothermal habitat. Given that the Waikato has more geothermal habitat in Aotearoa-New Zealand than any other region, it is fitting that Waikato Regional Council has input into the development of standard monitoring methods.

This project is the first stage in providing this input and involved:

• collating background information on geothermal sites that have had past flora and fauna (indigenous and exotic) monitoring, different monitoring methods used, monitoring outcomes reported, and the most up-to-date mapping (e.g., geothermal sites within the Wairākei-Tauhara, Mokai, Rotokawa and Ngatamariki geothermal systems). Sites that are monitored as part of resource consents were also included.
• discussion at a workshop of key stakeholders.
• providing key findings and recommendations.