Dr. Catherine Farrell:

I will reinforce the comments by Mr. Purser around national capital accounting and the national capital approach in terms of recognising different values relating to different services. That is one approach I am currently working on in terms of presenting a more holistic framework of how we get benefits from restoration. It can also help us to target other hazard areas.

Many services are returned but we have not heretofore recognised the value of these services. They are almost like the hidden values and hidden wealth within our forests and peatlands. There is momentum presented by this committee. It is in the gift of the committee to drive restoration for climate and biodiversity. The key understanding is that biodiversity underpins climate; they are not separate issues. Therefore, we have to hold difficult and awkward conversations on where we have to bring them all together. We cannot separate the water from the peat, the wood from the trees, the fire from the landslide. It is very much an integrated approach.

There have been some great initiatives by the Water Forum recently. I want to flag two particular publications. One is the Framework for Integrated Land and Landscape Management. The forum has also published a document on the co-benefits of water and peatlands. It is hosting a session on Friday and I recommend that all members attend. There is extensive ongoing work in this area and the session is to raise awareness among people such as members of this committee in order that they can start to bring this into their conversations.