Restoring Nature: Reform of the Conservation Management System

Restoring Nature: Reform of the Conservation Management System sets out a comprehensive package of recommendations for a new conservation system. 

All of our core conservation legislation predates the dual climate change and biodiversity crises. There is an urgent need to bring these laws in line with modern conservation practice, to better reflect ti Tiriti, current values and aspirations and to ensure that the system is responsive to the challenges ahead. 

The report builds on EDS’s 2023 reviews of the Wildlife Act and the Conservation Management Planning system. It demonstrates a clear need to prioritise indigenous biodiversity, shift management towards restoration, and strengthen a science-based approach across the system.