Farming, climate change take toll on New Zealand environment: report

Farming is driving down the quality of New Zealand's waterways and soil, and many of the country's unique animals are in decline, according to an official report out Wednesday.

The report from the government's Statistics New Zealand agency and the Ministry for the Environment gives an independent overview of the country's environment, covering the air, freshwater, land and seas.

It said global greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had increased, along with sea levels and ocean acidity.

It also listed other concerns, saying the diversity and conservation status of some indigenous species had declined, water quality in rivers that ran through intensively used land had worsened, and 78 percent of soils under dairy farming were badly affected by compaction.

Between 1990 and 2012, the estimated amount of nitrogen leaching into soil from livestock and fertilizers increased 29 percent, and between 1989 and 2013, total nitrogen levels in rivers rose 12 percent, increasing the likelihood of "slime and weeds," said the report.

It said 35 percent of seabirds were threatened with extinction in 2012 and 27 percent of marine mammals were threatened with extinction in 2009.

On the good news front, it said carbon monoxide emissions from transport were down 46 percent since 2001, harmful emissions of air particles from burning wood and coal had declined, and overfishing and seabed trawling had declined since 2009.

"New Zealanders' past and present activities are putting pressures on our environment," Secretary for the Environment Vicky Robertson said in a statement.

"These pressures are growing as our population increases, our economy develops, and our lifestyles change."

Environment Minister Nick Smith welcomed the report, which was the first in a system to produce a report every six months focusing on one of the five domains of freshwater, marine, atmosphere and climate, air and land.

"New Zealand's environment is so important to our quality of life, our successful exporting industries and our nation's brand that we need robust, independent reporting. It enables us to know where we match up, what areas need more attention, and helps us figure out what we need to do about problem areas," Smith said in a statement. Endit