Urbeco is based in Ōtautahi/Christchurch and provides ecological expertise in botany, entomology and herpetology. We also collaborate with a wider network of ecologists, to undertake larger projects where required.

Staff also have skills in GIS databases and statistics.

See further down to see examples of our work.

To discuss if we can help with your project, email: enquiry@urbeco.com

 

Some of our previous work:

Botanical Surveys & Vegetation Monitoring

Especially of the dry plains, waterways & wetlands.

Examples:

  • McLeans Island botanical survey

  • Avoca Stream wetland vegetation

  • Vegetation of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary

  • Monitoring of Kaitorete Wetland vegetation

  • Baseline survey of grassland vegetation in Port Hills reserves

  • Monitoring of Canterbury dry plains grassland sites

  • Changes in riparian vegetation along the Avon Heathcote and Styx Rivers 1992/93 to 1996/97

  • Changes in riparian vegetation along the lower Heathcote River following implementation of the Woolston Barrage

  • Botanical survey of Bexley Wetland

Wetland vegetation at Kaitorete

 

Ecological Site Assessments

Including significance assessments of sites.

Examples:

  • Sites of ecological significance for the Christchurch City and District Plans

  • Significance assessment for Muriwai Wetland (Coopers Lagoon)

  • Ecological site assessments on private land

Vegetation mapping for Avoca Valley Stream

 

Vegetation Management & Weed Plans

Examples:

  • Grazing management for Port Hills reserves

  • Weed plans for Styx Mill Conservation Reserve, McLeans Reserve, Horseshoe Lake Reserve, Brooklands Lagoon

  • Pest plant review for the CCC

  • Weed plans for sea lavender, phragmites, spartina, egeria

  • Canterbury weed calendar - Timing for surveillance and control

  • Assessment of riparian vegetation with regard to changes in riverbank maintenance policy

Chilean flame creeper

 

Science Communication

Projects to communicate botanical and ecological information to non-specialists and the general public.

Examples:

  • Training waterway maintenance staff in plant identification

  • Christchurch waterway maintenace guide (folder)

  • Estuarine and freshwater plants in Christchurch (booklet)

  • Identifying native trees and shrubs in the McLeans grasslands (booklet)

  • Canterbury weed guide (folder and web site)

  • Identification of purple loosestrife (pamphlet)

  • Streamside Planting Guide (web site and brochure)

  • Weed guide (brochure)

  • Weed of the Month (posters and online)

  • Christchurch Biodiversity Strategy (online)

 

Technical Advice

Input into Plans, Resource Consents & Subdivision Applications

Examples:

  • Christchurch City Plan

  • Natural Regional Resources Plan

  • Resource consent applications, e.g. Sisters Stream Wetland

  • Environment Court evidence for subdivisions on the Port Hills