The deforestation statistic is really shocking. But I remember being really surprised by how much deforestation the Maori had already done when the Europeans arrived. I think I saw the original maps at Te Papa, but they're here too: https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/11674/deforestation-of-new-zealand. According to that page 6.7 million hectares had been destroyed before European settlement began, and a further 8 million happened after that.
I wasn't sure what the size of the Maori population was when Europeans arrived, most of what I can find (e.g.: https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/27240/maori-population-changes) puts the population around 80k at that time. That's a simply massive amount of land they cleared.
I remember Sapiens discussing this as well. As far as we can tell, wherever humans of any type have gone in any non-trivial amounts, they've pretty much always caused massive ecosystem disruption and extinctions.
Yes, there was a lot of forest destroyed, mostly burned, before European arrival. I have come across some debate about how much was deliberately burned and why though. But New Zealand's environment hasn't fared well from human contact.
While still new to your Newsletter Melanie, I am learning so much about New Zealand! What seems promising is NZ seems to have avoided some agriculture practices that have come to dominate elsewhere. Raising animals is an intense generator of GHGs so it is not surprising that in some measures , NZ trails in reductions. I look forward to catching up on your writing. Very well researched and referenced.
Thank you. We are heading in the direction of greater intensification unfortunately. I'm not sure our keeping of pigs and chickens has been any better than many other countries although we have recently banned some of the worst ways of keeping chickens and pigs.
What an interesting and counterintuitive article! Kudos for raising awareness. Do most people in New Zealand generally believe the country is doing pretty well on climate change, or are they aware of the work still remaining?
I know in the US I generally assume we will rank near the bottom on climate mitigation, so it's refreshing to hear that even some US efforts are going okay, because doing even *somewhat* well is a surprise.
I think that many New Zealanders like to think that we are good environmentally, including in terms of climate change, but there is growing awareness that we aren't doing all that well.
Love how thorough and thoughtful you are in these investigations. Well done.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
The deforestation statistic is really shocking. But I remember being really surprised by how much deforestation the Maori had already done when the Europeans arrived. I think I saw the original maps at Te Papa, but they're here too: https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/11674/deforestation-of-new-zealand. According to that page 6.7 million hectares had been destroyed before European settlement began, and a further 8 million happened after that.
I wasn't sure what the size of the Maori population was when Europeans arrived, most of what I can find (e.g.: https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/27240/maori-population-changes) puts the population around 80k at that time. That's a simply massive amount of land they cleared.
I remember Sapiens discussing this as well. As far as we can tell, wherever humans of any type have gone in any non-trivial amounts, they've pretty much always caused massive ecosystem disruption and extinctions.
Yes, there was a lot of forest destroyed, mostly burned, before European arrival. I have come across some debate about how much was deliberately burned and why though. But New Zealand's environment hasn't fared well from human contact.
Talking or writing?
I'm hoping that these resources will encourage conversation.
Agreed.
While still new to your Newsletter Melanie, I am learning so much about New Zealand! What seems promising is NZ seems to have avoided some agriculture practices that have come to dominate elsewhere. Raising animals is an intense generator of GHGs so it is not surprising that in some measures , NZ trails in reductions. I look forward to catching up on your writing. Very well researched and referenced.
Thank you. We are heading in the direction of greater intensification unfortunately. I'm not sure our keeping of pigs and chickens has been any better than many other countries although we have recently banned some of the worst ways of keeping chickens and pigs.
What an interesting and counterintuitive article! Kudos for raising awareness. Do most people in New Zealand generally believe the country is doing pretty well on climate change, or are they aware of the work still remaining?
I know in the US I generally assume we will rank near the bottom on climate mitigation, so it's refreshing to hear that even some US efforts are going okay, because doing even *somewhat* well is a surprise.
I think that many New Zealanders like to think that we are good environmentally, including in terms of climate change, but there is growing awareness that we aren't doing all that well.