The conservation (protected area) status of New Zealand's indigenous grasslands: an update

The conservation (protected area) status of New Zealand's indigenous grasslands has been updated to December 2007, from the previous analysis of September 2002, to contribute to a global assessment and conservation initiative for the world's temperate grasslands. Only in the South Island rangeland geographic area has there been a substantial increase in the formally protected area of indigenous grasslands. These areas are mainly at the higher altitudes and associated with government's continued review of high country leasehold tenures. The area formally protected has increased from 12.8 to 15.4% of the original baseline (1840) grassland area of 82 436 km(2) over this period, but low to mid-altitude systems continue to be poorly protected and are undergoing rapid land transformation.