Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation

The Centre was established in 1999 to build on and focus the extensive skills and scholarship of Lincoln University staff for research, teaching and vocational training in nature conservation.

This includes discipline areas such as conservation biology, community and landscape ecology, sustainable management of natural resources, recreation and tourism in natural environments, development and use of environmental indicators, landscape design, habitat restoration and species recovery programmes, ethnobiology and wildlife management, ex situ (botanic garden, zoo and germ plasm bank) conservation, bio-economics and the ethics of nature.

The Isaac Centre is the umbrella body for all nature conservation research at the University. It also supports the Master of International Nature Conservation degree taught at Lincoln University.

The work of the Centre for Nature Conservation is being developed largely as a series of programmes that are outlined below. It has a primary relationship with the University's Divisions of Environmental Management and Design [web link] and Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences [web link], but also links with divisions and departments across the whole university. It also links closely with other university Centres, especially the Centre for Environmental Toxicology (CENTOX), Centre for Soil and Environmental Quality, Seed Technology Institute and the Tourism Recreation Research and Education Centre (TRREC).

The name 'Isaac' comes from the Isaac Wildlife Trust, established by the Canterbury quarry company Isaac Construction. Director, Lady Diana Isaac is Honorary Chair of the ICNC Management Board. 

Lady Diana Isaac has also provided scholarships which are administered through the Centre.

The Centre has a strong commitment to actively promoting and developing strategic alliances, both within New Zealand and overseas. We welcome approaches from potential partners in co-operative ventures.

The objectives of the Centre are focussed through the following programmes:

• Urban ecology
• Threatened species and ecosystems
• Waterwatch
• Mountain studies
• Polar and southern islands studies

The Centre objectives are:

• To promote the profile of nature conservation in its broadest sense and thereby make a difference to nature conservation
• To provide opportunities for education and training programmes in nature conservation
• To provide training opportunities that promote awareness and skill development among nature conservation practitioners
• To promote research on nature conservation using both single discipline and interdisciplinary approaches
• To develop stategic national and international linkages in nature conservation

The Isaac Centre is the umbrella body for all nature conservation research at Lincoln University. The Isaac Centre has a formal link with the Centre for Nature Conservation at Georg-August University at Goettingen, Germany.

Center Programmes and Projects

The Centre's mission statement is to promote the conservation of biological diversity and other elements of nature, its sustainable use, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of its utilisation through education, training and advocacy. This Mission Statement is based on Article 1 of the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity.

This is achieved through research and the Centre's programmes.

Greenway Canterbury

Urban ecology

Waterwatch: A water quality monitoring programme available for schools.

Urban ecology group: A joint urban ecology initiative between the Isaac Centre, Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury.

Sarawak Research Campus: A collaborative research initiative with Sarawak.

Ecological Engineering: An international initiative which brings together the disciplines of ecology and engineering.

The Flock Hill Workshops: The aim is to promote discussion and analysis of challenging and contemporary nature conservation issues.

The Annual State of the Nation's Environment Address: An annual review of where New Zealand is with regard to the state of the country's environment.

Personnel

Nature and conservation research

International activities of the Centre

Why Have International Linkages?

Linkages with international organizations and with overseas research and teaching institutions is becoming increasingly important with moves towards globalisation. Many of the problems and challenges in nature conservation are not confined to New Zealand. In looking for solutions overseas case studies and expertise is an important approach. The advent of electronic links including e-mail and the world wide web, and comparative ease of travel, means that the Centre is part of a global community.

As a relatively isolated country in a geographic sense it is important that Lincoln University fosters and builds its overseas linkages. This is reflected in the traditional importance the University puts on overseas student enrolments (over 40% of the students currently enrolled are from outside New Zealand). As well, the University maintains strong overseas consultancy links through Lincoln International Ltd, and vigorous academic links through its teaching and research staff.

International Masters' Degrees

One of the great challenges of conservation is the wise adaptation of techniques and approaches developed in one part of the world to another. In order to meet this challenge, one of the activities of the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation has been the establishment of two international degree programmes. The Masters in Natural Resource Management (NARMEE) is taught in conjunction with BOKU University in Austria; and the Masters in International Nature Conservation (MINC) with Georg-August University in Germany.

These degrees expose students to nature conservation and management problems and solutions in very different countries and cultures. Students have the opportunity to study in several countries authenticating the international character of their degree and greatly widening their experience.

Membership Of IUCN - The International Conservation Union

The University is a long-established individual member of IUCN. This links it to many hundreds of non-government organizations and academic/research institutions as well as over 140 governments worldwide. Through the work of IUCN specialist Commissions the University has input into global and regional strategic planning, case studies and specialist groups concerned with the whole spectrum of nature conservation.

The primary contact point for IUCN is now through the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation. The Centre is a member of the IUCN New Zealand Members Committee and also has the right to a delegation at the triennial World Conservation Congress. Several staff associated with the Centre are members of IUCN Commissions. A specific project being investigated currently is the establishment of a New Zealand-wide repository of IUCN documents and data to be based at the Lincoln University library.

Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany

The Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation and the Centre fro Nature Conservation at Georg-August University have embarked on a formal MoU in Nature Conservation.  This includes:

• Staff exchange
• Collaborative research
• Planned international degree in Nature Conservation

BOKU Universitat für Bodenkulture, Vienna, Austria

Lincoln University and BOKU University have embarked on a formal MoU in environmental edcuation and research.

One of the outcomes is a jointly awarded degree:

An international Masters degree in the area of sustainability:
"Master of Natural Resources Management and Ecological Engineering"
Two universities - one in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere - have joined forces to produce an innovative Master degree.  BOKU University, Vienna, Austria and Lincoln University in New Zealand's South Island are both universities of environment and resources, and share a strong common interest in promoting sustainable development.

The focus is the preparation for an international career in the areas of Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management, Ecological Engineering, or Business for Sustainability.  Neither university on its own can adequately prepare graduates for a professional career in the international arena.... But the synergy of both can do so.  The geographic, historical, political and social contrasts between a young island nation, and a small landlocked country in a large continent, provide a unique opportunity for learning.

The International Conservation Union

The University is a long-established individual member of IUCN. This links it to many hundreds of non-government organisations and academic/research institutions as well as over 140 governments worldwide. Through the work of IUCN specialist Commissions the University has input into global and regional strategic planning, case studies and specialist groups concerned with the whole spectrum of nature conservation.

The primary contact point for IUCN is now through the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation. The Centre is a member of the IUCN New Zealand Members Committee and also has the right to a delegation at the triennial World Conservation Congress. Several staff associated with the Centre are members of IUCN Commissions. A specific project being investigated currently is the establishment of a New Zealand-wide repository of IUCN documents and data to be based at the Lincoln University library.

ICNC Publications:

Urban Biodiversity and ecology as a basis for holistic planning and design. Glenn H. Stewart & Maria E. Ignatieva (eds) 2000: Urban Biodiversity and ecology as a basis for holistic planning and design. Proceedings of a workshop held on October 28-29, 2000. Lincoln University, Wickliffe Press, Christchurch. ICNC Publication No.1. 111pp. ISBN 0-86476-136-8.

Conservation and sustainable use of New Zealand flora. The Flock Hill Workshops. Report No.1  Ross Cullen, Ken Hughey, Kay Booth, Kirsten Crawford, Will Allen & Margaret Kilvington (eds) 

Eco-Tourism: An ally of nature conservation? The Flock Hill Workshops. Report No. 2  Kay Booth, Ross Cullen, Ken Hughey, Jason Leppens, Pat Maher & David Simmons (eds) 

Establishing shelter in Canterbury with Nature Conservation in mind: A practical guide for the true Cantabrian. Meurk, C.D.  2003.  Establishing shelter in Canterbury with Nature Conservation in mind: A practical guide for the true Cantabrian.  Information brochure produced by Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation and Environment Canterbury. pp 22.

Going Native: Making use of New Zealand's native plants.  Ian F. Spellerberg & David Given (eds).  2004. Going Native: Making use of New Zealand's native plants. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. pp 240. ISBN 1-877257-13-3.

Flight of the Huia.  Ecology and conservation of New Zealand's frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals.  Kerry-Jayne Wilson.  2004.  Flight of the Huia.  Ecology and conservation of New Zealand's frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals.  Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. pp 412.

Native Plant Communities of the Canterbury Plains, Katie Williams. Published by the Department of Conservation.

Newsletters

Nature Conservation News is a quarterly publication that aims to promote nature conservation research at Lincoln University, and report on activities of the Centre.
This newsletter is published following each board meeting. For further information or contributing articles please contact the centre administrator, Ruth Guthrie.

Number 1, April 2004  PDF
Number 2, October 2004 PDF
Number 3, December 2004 PDF