David Norton

Emeritus Professor David Norton has over 40 years’ experience researching and teaching ecology and conservation across public and private land in Aotearoa.

David has authored over 150 scientific publications, including a book on biodiversity conservation in farming landscapes. His most recent work has been on the distribution and management of native biodiversity in farming systems, especially sheep and beef farms, working closely with individual farmers, the farming community and sector groups to promote biodiversity conservation in farm management.

Since retiring from the University of Canterbury, David has continued to work actively with the farming sector through his business Biodiversity Solutions Ltd. He aims to help farmers incorporate native biodiversity into farm management in a way that results in win-win outcomes for farming and native biodiversity, especially in the face of rapidly changing climates.

David also works as a strategic science advisor to Pure Advantage promoting native reforestation through the Recloaking Papatūānuku initiative. Recloaking Papatūānuku has the potential to be a key tool for building landscape resilience to the effects of climate change, while also sequestering atmospheric CO2 and enhancing native biodiversity in Aotearoa.