Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy

Transcription

1 Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy Positioning and Innovation Group 2017/2020

2 >> Contents... >> Foreword 2 >> Introduction to Earth observation 3 >> Motivation for this strategy 4 >> Goals 5 >> Alignment to LINZ strategic goals 10 >> Roadmap for the next three years 11 >> Conclusions 12 >> Appendices 13 Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth observation research strategy October

3 >> Foreword I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THE LINZ EARTH OBSERVATION RESEARCH STRATEGY THIS STRATEGY WILL ENABLE LINZ TO DEVELOP A LONGER-TERM VIEW OF OUR ROLE IN EARTH OBSERVATION AND ALSO INFORM THE WIDER GOVERNMENT S USE OF SATELLITE DATA. This research strategy aligns with LINZ s 10 Year Vision The power of where drives New Zealand s success. Our goal is to grow tenfold the value generated by location information over the next decade. Earth observations from space can become an important part in the achievement of this vision. There have been significant changes in the world over the past decade, with Earth observations becoming an increasingly important tool for decision-makers. Traditionally, aerial photography has and continues to be an important approach for mapping and monitoring in New Zealand, but there are increasingly broad ranges of uses and users that need to be also considered. The variety of geographic information, insights, timely products, and services that can be generated from Earth observation data is diverse and expanding. The price of satellite data has dropped dramatically in only a few years. Technologies for data processing, analysis and dissemination are becoming common place. We are entering a new era of technological advances in this field that can be immediately translated into benefits for New Zealand society. Earth observation data and services are increasingly being used by a wide range of industries. Strong connectivity and improved communication across the Earth observation community will result in increasing numbers of joint projects and value-added services for New Zealand. Earth observations contribute to the achievement of long-term sustainability objectives in areas such as environmental monitoring, natural resource management, land use land monitoring, and disaster preparedness. Under this strategy, LINZ s plan for the next three years is to create a unifying focus to motivate and guide New Zealand s Earth observation community to take a coordinated set of actions that advance the country s capability and outputs in this field. For this approach to succeed we need a programme that discovers, understands, meets, and anticipates the needs of our users, and ensures they get the greatest benefit from the power of where. Jan Pierce Deputy Chief Executive Location Information Land Information New Zealand Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

4 >> Introduction to Earth observation... This strategy sets the direction LINZ will take with Earth observation. Earth observation is the process of capturing data from optical and radar satellites, and deriving information and knowledge about the regions of interest on Earth. Earth observation services primarily include the development and distribution of satellite data, derived information from data and value-added services relying on space-based observations. These services often involve combining remote sensing data with other observations from airplanes, terrestrial sensors and analytics. Earth observation processes include gathering data and delivering geospatial information for environmental monitoring, forestry and agricultural production, infrastructure monitoring and planning, disaster management, and more. Satellites revisit New Zealand every five to 10 days. In recent years, the United States and European Union have launched a range of satellites which continue to expand our knowledge and understanding of the environment. The satellites give a whole perspective of a territory in a matter of days. Through accurate observations of the land and ocean, the evolution of New Zealand can be monitored with clarity on timescales ranging from days to months to years to decades. The variety of geospatial information, insights, products and services currently generated from Earth observation data is diverse and continually expanding. National and international reports 1,2,3 consistently demonstrate: >> the significant and growing economic value of geospatial information derived from Earth observation data for the economy and for government, and >> the essential nature of these data to bring positive environmental and health outcomes and to improve preparedness for, and the response to, natural disasters. For these reasons, most countries have been running Earth Observation programmes for decades, with the first satellite operating since However, New Zealand doesn t have a national programme for Earth observation, a national point of contact or even a small department in charge of Earth observations. The U.S. and European satellites deliver free, high-quality data captured on a weekly basis, while New Zealand relies on aircraft to capture expensive data every three to five years. Both types of data are necessary to users, but a wealth of benefits and opportunities are currently missed because satellite images are not employed by central and local government in collaborative ways, but rather sporadically in isolated projects. The price of satellite data has dropped manifold (from prohibitive to affordable and even free) in only a few years, technologies for data processing, analysis and dissemination are becoming common place, and our expertise for exploiting remote sensing data has increased. We are entering a new era of technological advances that can and should be immediately translated into benefits for society. >> Vision The vision of this research strategy is to enable the maximum benefits of Earth observation data for society, the environment and the economic growth of New Zealand. 1 Impact and Social / Economic Benefits of Geospatial Services in New Zealand (and APAC) AlphaBeta report sponsored by Google, Spatial Information in the New Zealand Economy: Realising Productivity Gains report prepared for Land Information New Zealand by ACIL Tasman, 2009, available at 3 The Value of Geospatial Information in Public Service Delivery in England and Wales report, 2010, available at under our support > guidance and resources > data transparency > geographic information. Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

5 >> Motivation for this strategy Earth observation provides the basic data and derived information and knowledge for meeting New Zealand s long-term sustainability objectives for: >> environmental monitoring >> forestry and agriculture >> natural resources, land use >> biodiversity >> climate monitoring >> disaster management >> ocean monitoring >> coastal monitoring >> topography, and >> bathymetry. Earth observation activities also create benefits not always quantifiable in financial indicators, but tangible in providing information about the Earth s state and threats to our environment and people, thereby enhancing citizens safety and overall quality of life. 4 The economic benefits of Earth observation activities for New Zealand will be manifold because the country has free access to the same data and scientific processes employed by the European Space Agency and NASA, but without any investment in satellite technologies (e.g. building, launching, operating satellites, storage and facilities, etc). Independent studies in Europe show that, on average, EUR 1 invested in Earth observation (EU Copernicus Program) leads to an economic benefit of up to EUR 10 due to better decisions, more efficient policy implementation as well as savings due to better preparedness for natural disasters. 4 The economic value of just one year of Landsat data (US satellite for Earth observation) far exceeds the multiyear total cost of building, launching, and managing the satellites. Customer-oriented research found the economic benefit of Landsat data for the year 2011 alone was estimated to be $1.70 billion for U.S. users and $400 million for international users, resulting in a total annual value of $2.19 billion. 5 Mount Taranaki 4 European Space Agency Strategy for 2040, published in 2015, available at 5 Landsat Seen as Stunning Return on Public Investment, NASA Landsat Advisory Group 2013, available at Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

6 >> Goals The purpose of this Earth Observation Research Strategy is to challenge LINZ and the geospatial community in New Zealand to deliver the maximum benefits of space-based data to society. The three main goals of this strategy are: Increase the utilisation of Earth observation data within LINZ to optimize and accelerate the delivery of geospatial data. Increase cooperation and coordination of Earth observation activities in New Zealand. Develop greater Earth observation capability in New Zealand to accelerate innovation. >> P6 TO SEE MORE >> P7 TO SEE MORE >> P9 TO SEE MORE Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

7 >> Goal 1.. Increase the utilisation of Earth observation data within LINZ to optimise and accelerate the delivery of geospatial data. Real-world geospatial data and accurate information are mandatory tools for decision-makers. Earth observation satellites are uniquely placed to deliver timely, New Zealand-wide views on the state of the land and ocean. Satellite images complement aerial photography and in-situ observations, and address the critical problems of timeliness and under-sampling. While aerial images are taken every three years, satellite images of the entire country are captured every quarter. Satellites provide observations at multiple spatial scales (from 30cm to 30m per pixel) and enable long-term understanding of New Zealand s environmental trends. Sustained observations of the entire country with satellites are essential for operational activities that bring value and benefits to society. >> OBJECTIVES TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL: 1. Enable users to discover, monitor and map changes in a timely manner. 2. Support users to update mapping on a regular basis. 3. Increase the utilisation of satellite images to generate new and innovative geospatial data, products and services. 4. Provide tools and services that enable accurate, reliable and timely access to Earth observation data for mapping, updating and reporting. Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

8 >> Goal 2.. Increase cooperation and coordination of Earth observation activities in New Zealand. NEW ZEALAND COORDINATION The initial phase of this strategy will answer these questions: >> Who are the key users - i.e. what are the pieces of the puzzle? >> What are the key activities - i.e. what is the order of the pieces of the puzzle? >> What roles might key users play in the national Earth observation vision? As environmental challenges accelerate, the geospatial problems the country must solve also increase. No single agency in New Zealand (or anywhere in the world for that matter) has the resources or the expertise necessary to deliver the entire processing chain from data acquisition to product delivery. Meeting environmental challenges requires experts from diverse and previously disparate fields to work together (e.g. biologists working with satellite imaging scientists and mapping experts). Earth observation technologies are too expensive to be owned by a single organisation, the problems are too complex to be solved by a single company, and the geospatial workflow from data capture to product delivery is too difficult to be handled by a single team. Increased collaboration between users will lead to more effective use of resources, better scientific impact and greater return on geospatial projects. Building Earth observation systems can become prohibitively expensive and timeconsuming if parts of the technical work are duplicated. A brief study performed by LINZ across central and local government agencies in 2017 revealed that the Earth observation context in New Zealand is fragmented. Key users do not communicate with each other and, as a result, difficult projects that could benefit the entire country are duplicated. The 2017 study also showed significant competition between apples and oranges for important government funding: different startups with complementary solutions that fill different needs at different stages of the data-capture-to-product-delivery chain compete against each other. Because there is no view from above of the national, the pieces of the puzzle are not put in order and they compete against each other instead of collaborating on an optimised national solution. In the future, the vision for Earth observation must be implemented at national level for two important reasons: >> What others are doing will bring benefits to LINZ (e.g. integrating their datasets into our systems), and >> What LINZ is doing will benefit others (e.g. private companies using LINZ datasets to add value and create new products and services). The vision is needed to create a unifying focus that motivates and guides New Zealand s Earth observation (scientific and operational) communities to take a coordinated set of actions that advance country s capability. We aim to develop a national vision where each participant reaps the maximum benefits and brings the maximum contribution towards all the partners involved. INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION Internationally, in the last few years, New Zealand s involvement in the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) has decreased to the point where currently nobody is representing the country. New Zealand s participation in international programmes must increase in order to align ourselves with global trends and stay up-todate with developments in the industry. The development of international systems can only be influenced to the benefit of New Zealand if we actively contribute to them. Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

9 >> Goal 2 cont. >> OBJECTIVES TO INCREASE NEW ZEALAND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION: 1. Identify the gaps, problems and opportunities in the Earth observation sector in New Zealand. 2. Increase the frequency of conversations between local and central government agencies. 3. Research the use and uptake of Earth observation data by users in New Zealand. >> OBJECTIVES TO INCREASE INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION AND COOPERATION: 1. LINZ nominates representatives for New Zealand in the international forums and contributes to the international working groups. 2. New Zealand becomes a valuable contributor to international Earth observation programmes. Another potential objective during the next decade is for LINZ to provide strong leadership in the development and dissemination of an Earth observation data system in New Zealand and extend its benefits to the South Pacific islands. LINZ has the potential to become the respected leader, advisor and custodian of Earth observation data in New Zealand and the South Pacific. The Earth observation work performed by LINZ contributes to national and international users. The results achieved by our partners contributes to the long-term success of New Zealand. Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

10 >> Goal 3 Develop greater Earth observation capability in New Zealand to accelerate innovation. An important goal of this strategy is to investigate the possibility of developing innovative partnerships across government, industry and research to ensure that New Zealand s economy, society and environment are thoroughly sustained and improved with Earth observation data. LINZ can play an essential role in nurturing and supporting the professional development of individuals (e.g. through trainings with international experts and internships) and by working in international partnerships with universities and private organisations. Earth observation developments will need to enable multiple uses of the data and use of new and emerging technologies. We can create and support existing mechanisms for engaging industry, government and NGOs, universities, and other stakeholders to break down the mindset barriers between users, and thus drive innovation. We can drive innovation, and improve national engagement, by creating opportunities for user communities to interact and cultivate wider use of Earth observation data. >> OBJECTIVES TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS: 1. Understand the current Earth observation capabilities in New Zealand. 2. Increase our professional expertise in the field. 3. Increase the utilisation of satellite images to generate new and innovative geospatial data, products and services. 4. Provide tools and services that enable accurate, reliable and timely access to Earth observation data for mapping, updating and reporting. Farewell Spit Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

11 >> Alignment to LINZ strategic goals... This strategy needs to align with LINZ s overall goal of increasing by tenfold the value created for New Zealand through the use of geographic information, and three strategic goals below that. Here is how the Earth observation research strategy will contribute to these objectives: INCREASE THE USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION INVESTMENT LINZ will create optimal conditions for users to make informed decisions based on accurate and timely data. Earth observations can become the fundamental layer for ongoing, rigorous environmental monitoring and updating. We will support development of new Earth observation tools for monitoring the environment and its resources. LEADERSHIP An important outcome of this strategy is to position LINZ as the national technical leader and trusted advisor on the value and use of Earth observation data. We will update the NZ Geospatial Strategy to reflect current state and future use of Earth observation data. PUBLIC SECTOR CAPABILITY LINZ will support understanding and uptake of Earth observation data by government, and development of new capabilities in NZ. MAPPING NEW ZEALAND 2025 Earth observation data can become the base layer for Mapping New Zealand Satellite images provide the complete picture of NZ updated every three to six months, and enable users to refresh (where feasible) the map datasets as soon as desired. UNLOCK THE VALUE OF PROPERTY PROPERTY DECISIONS INFORMED BY HIGH-QUALITY INFORMATION Earth observation data and tools enable user communities to make timely and informed resource management decisions with major implications across our land and environment. STATE OF THE CROWN ESTATE Data and tools enable central and local governments to have access to accurate and timely information about the Crown estate. REALISING MĀORI LAND POTENTIAL Data and tools provide decision-makers with the right framework and insights to understand the evolution of the land, and maximise its productivity and output. One of the critical few goals of LINZ s Location Information group is to enable better utilisation of Earth observation data. INCREASE IMPROVE RESILIENCE RESILIENCE TO NATURAL TO NATURAL EVENTS EVENTS To enable decision-making on accurate data rather than intuition long-term ongoing monitoring of the environment is imperative. This is facilitated by technical innovation in areas of remote sensing for Earth observation. 6 Earth observations allow users to rely upon high-quality, long-term, accurate, and easily accessible geospatial information. 6 Conservation and Environment Science Roadmap, Ministry for the Environment, 2017, available at Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

12 >> Roadmap for the next three years... Implementing our strategy means LINZ needs to take some key steps in the next three years. Here is our roadmap of priority actions for delivering the earth observation vision TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING THE RESEARCH STRATEGY >> We implement the first technical projects within LINZ to accelerate geo-data production. >> We meet with partners and users to understand the national Earth observation context. >> We get involved in the international community by participating at key conferences UNDERSTAND THE NATIONAL EARTH OBSERVATION CONTEXT >> We understand the Earth observation context in New Zealand and the pieces of the puzzle: who are the users, what are they doing, how we can support and benefit from each other, etc. >> We support the What on Earth? forum for Earth observation that will bring together the key national users. We write together with them New Zealand s vision for the next 10 years. >> We deliver a prototype for an optimised Earth observation data system. >> Earth observation is accepted for data production and mapping updates at LINZ BECOME THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARTH OBSERVATION >> Earth observation becomes business-as-usual for data production and updates at LINZ. >> We bring valuable contributions to the international Earth observation community. >> We support private companies to open offices in New Zealand and create new jobs. Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

13 >> Conclusions The Earth observation sector can enable improved decision-making across many areas of the government and the economy. A wellcoordinated and connected community will result in improved strategic use of the national space capability, with reduced duplication of technical work, greater cross-sector collaboration and innovation, and ultimately better outcomes for business and society. A well-coordinated and connected space community is better able to communicate the value of its work to stakeholders, advocate for itself and engage with international partners. By improving coordination of the community in New Zealand, LINZ ensures that both service providers and end-users can jointly demonstrate the importance of Earth observation data across all sectors of business, government and society. This in turn will support the increased uptake and use of LINZ data for wideranging societal benefits including local and urban planning, agribusiness, environmental monitoring, forecasting and preparedness for natural disasters and emergency responses, public health outcomes, and more. By 2025, Earth observation data and services will be used broadly by a wide range of industries and the general public, and will become a trusted decision-making tool for the government. Strong connectivity and communication across the Earth observations community and with other industries will result in increasing numbers of joint research projects and value-added products. The current disconnect between producers and users means the potential of Earth observation is not being fully exploited and many opportunities are lost. Concerted efforts to extend and promote the real-world applications and benefits of Earth observations are critical to driving user uptake and meeting the LINZ goal of increasing tenfold the value of geographic information. The Earth observation community must: >> measure and record the uptake and economic benefits of remote-sensing data and services across different sectors >> advocate for innovation programmes, grants and subsidies that encourage entrepreneurship, and >> engage widely across the user community to determine what users see as the important areas for action in the short (<five years) and the long-term (five to 10 years) in order to implement an accurate plan. Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

14 >> Appendices... Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth observation research strategy October

15 >> Appendix 1 action plan. THE EARTH OBSERVATION TEAM WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS RESILIENCE: >> Begins research on implementing an Earth observation data system in New Zealand to provide timely and consistent remote sensing images. The system will enable LINZ and external users to access timely data and insights on a monthly - quarterly basis. This Earth observation system can become the base-layer for most mapping and monitoring activities. >> Holds meetings with central and local governments to plan an Earth observation forum and organise a national innovation competition in New Zealand. >> Holds meetings with partners and stakeholders to understand the Earth observation context in New Zealand. THE EARTH OBSERVATION TEAM WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS HYDROGRAPHY: The Earth observation team will offer technical support with satellite-derived bathymetry, as required by Hydrography team. A service for oil spills detection and ocean monitoring based on remote sensing data has already been developed and is available to be implemented at an operational level. The Earth observation contributions for hydrography are: >> Support with satellite-derived bathymetry. >> Implementation of an oil spill monitoring service if requested by LINZ or NZ government. THE EARTH OBSERVATION TEAM WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS TOPOGRAPHY: The Earth observation team will offer technical support to LINZ s Topography team to increase the accuracy and currency of mapping data, and speed up the production of new datasets. The team will also contribute with technical knowledge and business insights when using external contractors. Earth observation contributions for topography are: >> Technical support with vegetation mapping. >> Technical support with river mapping. THE EARTH OBSERVATION TEAM WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE LINZ VISION AND GOALS: The Earth observation team will contribute as necessary towards the LINZ objectives: >> Technical and business support for Mapping New Zealand >> Technical and business support the business case for National Elevation Data. >> Technical and innovation support CRCSI. >> A series of internal seminars on remote sensing for Earth observation. Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

16 >> Appendix 2 Rationale for the strategy... Earth observation data offers accurate visual representations of the entire country at multiple levels of resolution, suitable for a broad range of users and activities. Earth observations are the only way to monitor with real data not with interpolation or predictions the environment, our natural resources and the impact of human activities on the entire territory of New Zealand within a specific window in time. Without routine and comprehensive Earth observations, New Zealand doesn t have adequate and complete data to monitor the environment, to discover potentially harmful long-term trends and respond to crises. A lack of long-term continuous data undermines the accuracy of environmental records and the credibility of decisions. Gaps in the data can affect the modelling and future predictions. Errors in predictions (e.g. flood modelling) can have dramatic economic and social costs. Some of the pressing reasons why the central government should be interested in the future of Earth observation in New Zealand and this research strategy include: INFRASTRUCTURE >> With 60 percent population growth predicted for Auckland in the next decades and more than 500,000 buildings required to be built for these people 7, where will Auckland build them? Where will they build the additional infrastructure required to support this growth? >> By 2045, New Zealand s population will increase by 1.2 million people. 8 Where will they live? >> The government has already invested $116 billion in existing infrastructure and will invest $50 billion more in the next 10 years. Where is this infrastructure and how does it grow old? Where and what is the natural and builtup environment in which it sits? 8 RESILIENCE >> The International Panel for Climate Change projections show the sea level will rise 30cm in the next 50 years. 9 Tides and storm surges will reach further inland than before, resulting in more frequent and extensive flooding. Flooding of coastal areas will become more frequent, more severe, more extensive. Where is the highest level of risk? >> Flooding is New Zealand's most frequent natural disaster with an average annual cost of $51 million. Where is flooding most likely to occur next? Where is the infrastructure most at risk due to flooding? 8 When a natural or man-made disaster happens, satellites offer a detailed overview of the affected area within hours. >> A million more hectares of trees will make a significant difference to New Zealand's carbon emissions. Establishing forests has the added benefits of reducing land erosion and improving water quality. 9 Where can/will they be planted? NATURAL RESOURCES >> New Zealand is beginning to deplete its natural resources and is reaching its limits on some of the crucial inputs of the economy, e.g. land. 8 Treasury requires government to have the right setting to make decisions in the future. When data is missing and the picture is incomplete, decisions are inaccurate. Where and what is precisely happening to New Zealand's land and resources? >> The Māori economy includes the primary industries and the asset base of their economy is increasing. Where is the productive Māori land? How is it being or could be used? >> The Water network and the road network assets make the vast majority of local government assets: Where is the water network, what is the status and health of rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds? Where is the road network, what is the status? 7 Population Estimates and Projections, Statistics NZ, 2016, available at 8 The Thirty Year Infrastructure Plan, National Infrastructure Unit, Treasury, 2015, available at 9 Preparing New Zealand for Rising Seas: Certainty and Uncertainty, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment report, 2015, available at Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

17 >> Appendix 2 Rationale for the strategy cont.... AGRICULTURE >> Projections indicate New Zealand's population (4.69 million in 2016) will increase to 5 million in 2020, to 5.5 million in 2025, and to 7.5 million in The growing population puts great pressure on agricultural lands. Intensification of agricultural practices is an accelerating process that potentially threatens the environment, the biodiversity and the sustainability of agricultural production. Where and how will the agricultural lands be impacted? Where and how is the natural environment affected by the intensification of agriculture? 10 >> Intensive farming practices have devastating effects on wild rivers. Many wetlands have been drained and forests have been cleared to make way for agriculture. With increasing demand for dairy products from India and China, farmers have converted beef, sheep and forest lands into dairy farms. Over the past 25 years, the number of dairy cows in New Zealand has nearly doubled, putting great strain on the environment. The area of dairy farms in Canterbury, Otago and Southland increased by 28 percent between 2002 and Where and how is the land transformed by the intensification of (dairy) farming? The images below show a large area in Canterbury transformed from forest plantation (2011) to dairy farms (2016). Forest plantations in Canterbury, 2011 Dairy farms in Canterbury, Water Quality in New Zealand: Land Use and Nutrient Pollution, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Report, 2013, available at 11 Environment Aotearoa Report, Ministry for the Environment, 2015, available at Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

18 >> Appendix 2 Rationale for the strategy cont ENVIRONMENT >> Land use and population growth have placed increasing pressure on our waterways. This is more evident with agricultural land because it surrounds 46 percent of New Zealand s rivers. The amount of nitrogen fertiliser used in New Zealand has increased by about 10 times since 1985 and doubled since the mid-1990s. 12 Phosphorus and nitrogen from dairy cows is running off into the waterways, and as a result many waterways have become full of algae. Between 1990 and 2012, the estimated amount of nitrogen that leached into soil from agriculture increased 29 percent. 11 Where and how are the waterways affected by intense agricultural practices? >> The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment found climate change to be by far the most serious environmental issue New Zealand faces. 13 Where and how is the natural environment impacted by climate change? The report revealed New Zealand s native plants and animals are losing the war against pests. Where and how are pests impacting native vegetation? Where and what is the status of native vegetation? The causes of environmental damage are many and varied. Whatever we do with the land affects the natural environment. Earth Observations from satellites give the exact overview of where and what happens with the land. The Parliamentary Commissioner has stressed that future reports should provide information on where different issues are significant and where they are not. >> The first New Zealand-wide assessment of land cover using satellite imagery was in A decrease of more than 10,000 hectares in indigenous forest and regenerating forest occurred during this period. 14 While this represents a small change (0.26 percent) in statistical terms, it is ecologically significant because any loss in forest also leads to a loss in ecosystems and the plants and animals that inhabit these ecosystems. Once indigenous forest is lost, it is difficult to restore. What is the actual area and status of the native forest in New Zealand? OCEAN >> The EEZ marine domain of New Zealand is 15 times larger than the land area. Where and what is happening in NZ's EEZ? Radar satellites monitor the entire coast of New Zealand and the marine environment on a weekly basis for oil spills, illegal discharges and shipping activities impossible to monitor in different ways. Earth Observation data for monitoring the oceans is timely, accurate and freely available. >> Conclusion Moving ship with an oil spill Earth observation data can become the foundation to answer all the above questions. 12 The National State of the Environment Report: Environment New Zealand, 2007, available at 13 The State of New Zealand s Environment: Commentary by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on Environment Aotearoa 2015, 2016, available at 14 Environmental Reporting Series: Land Cover Stats NZ, 2015 available at Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth Observation Research Strategy October

19 Positioning and Innovation team Land Information New Zealand Earth observation research strategy October

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