Assisting the monitoring of land use change in the Lake Taupō catchment, is becoming the major focus for the Trust set up to protect the future of the lake.
The Lake Taupō Protection Trust is next week launching a documentary, in written and visual formats, of the Taupō Project, capturing the insights of people involved in instigating a nitrogen cap for the land around the lake, to ensure Lake Taupō is protected long-term.
Chair of the Lake Taupō Protection Trust, Clayton Stent, says the documentary launch is a timely reminder that the journey to look after the lake is only just beginning.
“Even though the Taupō Project has been a tremendous success to date, which is reflected in our documentary, what will determine its ultimate success, is the continued vigilance around the monitoring of land use change.
“The investment that has been made in changing what happens around the lake has been huge, clearly the community and funding partners are entitled to make sure that all contracts to change land use are effectively monitored,” says Mr Stent.
The Lake Taupō project has invested $89 million of public funds to reduce nitrogen discharges from rural land into the lake by 20 per cent, which equates to 170 tonnes per year. The target to reduce the nitrogen discharge was reached ahead of schedule.
Mr Stent says it is encouraging to reflect back on what has been achieved so far with the project although the work will be ongoing.
“In many respects the Taupō Project was ahead of its time. It could be argued that the rest of New Zealand, and perhaps the rest of the world, is now catching up with changing attitudes to fresh water. We now need to ensure that the Taupō Project delivers on its vision for a clean lake into the future,” he says.
Monday afternoon (12 March 2018) will see the launch of a documentary video of the Taupō Project. On hand for the launch will the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton. The documentary video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/he3AWES9Ook.