Land resource data in land development; management and environmental conservation: an evaluation of communication and user response in the Northland region

Abstract

Data on soil and water, geology, slope, topography, climate, land use, vegetation, archaeology, and wildlife, provide a necessary basis for decision making in the fields of land development, management and environmental conservation. This study, attempts to evaluate the degree of shortfall between land resource data availability and data need, and also to identify areas of responsibility for data collection, and channels of communication between data collector and user. The thesis shows that land use decisions are influenced by two major factors: the use made of land resource data by decision makers, and government policy on land development and environmental conservation. The first depends on the quality and detail of available land resource data, the nature of the information infrastructure, and the information transfer chain. Case studies show that land development decisions made with inadequate use of land resource data led to mismanagement while those made with adequate use of land resource data led to good management. The second factor includes government legislation and financial policy on land development and environmental conservation. The study reveals a very complex information infrastructure, with many government and private agencies collecting and publishing land resource data and communicating with land use decision makers. Because data is collected independently by many agencies for different geographical areas, and is published in many forms, overlap is occurring which results in duplication of effort and cost and confusion in the mind of potential data users. Departmental policy on confidentiality also prevents access to certain types of data, which therefore remain unexploited. Indirect land use decision makers make extensive use of published sources of physical data, supplemented by personal field investigation and experience. The survey shows that the quality, accuracy and detail of existing sources for most physical data are adequate. There are, however, some exceptions: larger scale maps of soil type are required, there is no land suitability map for primary production, nature conservation and recreation, and more information is needed for subtropical fruit growing. Because of the complexity of the land use decision making, direct land use decision makers must increasingly rely on formal sources (particularly extension officers) for land resource data. The survey also reveals a high degree of dependence upon neighbours or on the land developers' own judgement in many decisions. While formal sources provide land developers with most land resource data, there are additional requirements for certain cases, e.g. when the intention is to clear scrub or native bush for development, to diversify land use, or to undertake horticultural development. The land resource data needed in these cases include a soil map and a land suitability map for productive use, both at scale 1:10,000 or larger. Neither direct nor indirect land use decision makers use wildlife and archaeological data. The study also reveals a major conflict between government's aim to bring more undeveloped land into production and its aim to protect the environment. In the private sector, private individuals have wide freedom to use the land they control, with practically no legislative constraints. Uncontrolled land development is also encouraged by Government through its financing policy. The study concludes with a number of recommendations on how information use could be improved: - A computer-based land information system should be established. - The Northland Catchment Commission should undertake the role of a land development agency with the task of preparing, on request, detailed development programmes, including economic and market data. - A regularly updated index of information should be compiled and made available to land use decision makers. - An archaeological map at scale 1:100,000 is necessary. - Production of a soil map at scale 1:20,000 or smaller for the horticultural areas of Northland. - Employment of more soil conservators, horticultural advisors, and archaeologists. - More effective use of radio and television farming programmes. - Incorporation of effective mechanisms in the Wildlife Act 1953, to enable wildlife protection. - Environment conditions, in addition to the present financial conditions, should be imposed by rural grant on loan making agencies. - The establishment of a research station near Kerikeri to provide more information on subtropical fruit growing.