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WCC 2016 Res 064 - Activity Report

Submitted by Catherine.Wallace on Sat, 11/30/2019 - 21:59
General Information
Strengthening cross-sector partnerships to recognise the contributions of nature to health, well-being and quality of life
IUCN Constituent: 
Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand
IUCN Constituent type: 
IUCN Member
Period covered: 
2018
Country/Territory: 
New Zealand
In implementing this Resolution your organization has worked/consulted with...
IUCN Members: 
Department of Conservation / New Zealand
Implementation
Indicate and briefly describe any actions that have been carried out to implement this Resolution: 
ActionDescriptionStatus
Policy influencing/advocacyECO has pressed the connections between a healthy environment and healthy people and societies, and we have not been alone in this. The NZ Treasury, the Ministry for the Environment, Maori organisations and iwi (tribes), many health, recreation and community groups have done work in this area. One result of this is that we now have a national policy framework and a national well being budget. Within this framework, recognition of Maori rights and co-governance has become far more prominent and is being incorporated into policy, law and practice to a much greater degree than under previous governments. Mental health and engagement of people in the community in conservation is a significant part of this effort. Much of this has been led by community led organisations and an enlightened government. ECO's role has simply been to help articulate the ideas and to extend and endorse the work of leaders in this field. On-going
Policy influencing/advocacyWith the benefit of the work on this area by others in IUCN, including those who developed the World Parks Congress, Sydney, ECO has picked up on the health and well being aspects of nature conservation, and in New Zealand, a good deal of social connectedness from community based conservation, ECO has inserted these ideas into a range of policy and funding discussions. We have worked in partnership on biosecurity and networking for nature with a variety of organisations. In BioSecurity 2025, hosted by BioSecurity New Zealand of the Ministry of Primary Industries, with the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Health, Regional Councils, Te Tira Whakamatau - the Maori BioSecurity Network, the Dairy companies's organisation, The Port of Tauranga, various and a Government-Industry biosecurity agreement group. One result of this is the campaign to engage the whole New Zealand community as a biosecurity team and to connect the many networks on biosecurity. Completed
Please report on the result /achievement of the actions taken: 
The connections between healthy environment and healthy people is now being woven into the fabric of a good deal of policy. The Well-being budget that this led to in 2019 has made this official. There is now more peony flowing to the Department of Conservation and to mental health, but both need more.
What challenges have you encountered in implementing this Resolution and what measures have you taken to overcome them?: 
As ever, these connections were and are scoffed at, and the work on making these connections has taken many years. Previous governments have insisted on highly siloed public sector organisations and efforts. The present government is a coalition government and so has a range of views, but for the moment, there is much greater willingness to foster environmentally and socially beneficial actions.
Identify and briefly describe what future actions are planned for the implementation of this Resolution: 
Future ActionDescription
Education/Communication/Raising awarenessECO has many times drawn on the work of IUCN and its members to inform our communities and others about the benefits to health of a healthy environment, and we will continue to spread the word, while maintaining recognition of the environment for its own sake, as well as for human benefit.
Policy influencing/advocacy We will continue to reinforce the synergies between environment and health, in relation of course to climate destabilisation and nature conservation and recreation, passive benefits etc. We hope to persuade future governments to continue with the approach and direct more funding to it.