Protected Areas Hoe
- Phase One
- Project 1: Ice Dynamics
- Project 2: Antarctic Ocean Mechanics
- Project 3: Ecosystems
- Project 4: Feedbacks
- National Modelling Hub
- SWAIS2C
- Ross Sea Voyage 2024
- Opportunity Projects
- Phase Two
- Tiaki Moana – Marine System
- Tiaki Whenua – Terrestrial System
- Mesopredators Research Hoe
- Ice Shelf Cavity Hoe
- Modelling Capability & Development hoe
- Tipuranga: Mātauranga Māori Research Hoe
- Protected Areas Hoe
The Protected Areas Hoe team is focusing on translating (near-)completed research into outputs that can be used by decision-makers and national representatives, in support of Aotearoa New Zealand’s strategic interests at international fora such as ATCM (Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting) and CCAMLR (Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources).
Lead: Ian Hawes
Why this research, and what are we doing?
It is vital that decision-making at every level is informed by the latest scientific evidence. To this end, this research team is contracting work to incorporate Antarctic Science Platform research into the decision-making and environmental reporting processes, in response to emerging priorities.
This fund is held centrally by the Antarctic Science Platform (ASP).
Objective 1: Protected areas
Our immediate targets for this objective include two existing protected area systems within the ASP geographic focus – the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area, and existing Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. Within Tiaki Moana, Tiaki Whenua and the Mesopredator Hoe, research is being conducted that will generate information directly relevant to the current and future management of these protected areas.
This includes the first decadal assessment of the effectiveness of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area, due in 2027, which is recognised as an urgent issue.
On a less time-constrained level, it is also critical to incorporate consideration of new threats emerging with climate change into the existing Antarctic Specially Protected Areas network.
Credit Regina Eisert
Objective 2: Environmental state assessment
The ASP research programmes share goals of 1) identifying dangerous emerging trends that are indicative of irreversible change; and 2) developing monitoring strategies. These align with the need to develop mechanisms to collate and communicate information on the changing state of the environment, across environments. This was supported in Phase 1 through the New Zealand Antarctic Environmental Assessment project – an initiative between ASP and Antarctica New Zealand to develop an enduring, comprehensive mechanism for reporting on the state of the Ross Sea region environment that supports the needs of science, management and policy making.
Credit Regina Eisert