Welcome to the Upper Clutha Catchment Health Project, an initiative funded through the Our Land and Water: Revitalise Te Taiao programme, a programme deeply rooted in the principles of Te Taiao, a profound connection to and reverence for the natural world. Our project serves as a catalyst for community engagement, uniting diverse stakeholders, from residents, landowners and tourism operators, in a collective effort to revitalise healthy ecosystems and community wellbeing for future generations.
At the heart of our endeavour lies a comprehensive monitoring framework, crafted to encapsulate the essence of Te Taiao and to foster a holistic understanding of catchment health.
The monitoring framework is comprised of a selection of indicators that reflect the health of our land, water, biodiversity, livelihoods, and culture within the catchment, all interconnected within Te Taiao. These indicators not only provide valuable insights but also instil a sense of ownership and pride within our community for the stewardship of our catchment.
By rooting our monitoring framework indicators with direct community values, pressures, and actions that were identified in the Upper Clutha Community Catchment Plan, our framework embodies a collaborative effort involving the entire catchment community, including residents from rural and urban areas, as well as visitors to our region. Through ongoing monitoring and reporting, we aim to showcase the myriad of local initiatives dedicated to preserving and enhancing our catchment's health as well as guide future environmental investments.
The monitoring framework aims to connect the Upper Clutha community to Te Taiao through understanding the state of our catchment health and the interacting indicators that contribute. We recognise that true health in our catchment transcends mere ecological balance; it encompasses a sustainable coexistence between human activities and endeavours, and the natural environment. Through our monitoring framework, we aim to assess and nurture this delicate equilibrium, guided by the ethos of respect and care for our surroundings.
As a central repository for data collection and reporting, our monitoring framework fosters collaboration among various organisations across the catchment, ensuring a unified approach towards environmental stewardship. It serves as the cornerstone for our annual "State of the Upper Clutha Catchment Health" assessments, providing a concise overview of key findings as presented on this website.
This website and data representation are a part of a pilot project using publicly available data sources. Whilst this website has been published in 2024, the data and analysis presented are from 2022. Consequently, some groups, data, and context developments since 2022 may not be represented. The website remains static. The purpose of this project is to pilot a Catchment Health Monitoring Framework, identify data gaps, and provide suggestions for future project directions. The intention is that further development and improvement of the framework, reports, and tools will be undertaken as resourcing becomes available.
Join Us in Building a Healthier Catchment!
By partnering with us, you'll not only contribute to the preservation of our natural resources but also strengthen your organisation's commitment to sustainability and community engagement. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and vitality of the Upper Clutha Catchment. We look forward to welcoming you as a valued partner in this important endeavour.
Want to find more information on how to become a partner? Contact us today.
