Mountains to Sea
The Mountains to Sea Flagship is working to advance understanding of connected catchment to coastal systems from mountains to the sea to support resilient ecosystems, sustainable resources and adaptation to environmental change.
We work with iwi, communities, councils, government agencies, industry and international science partners to observe, quantify and model connected catchment and coastal processes, environmental fluxes, ecosystem resilience and change thresholds across multiple timescales. This research is quantifying how sediment, carbon, nutrients and contaminants move through connected catchment and coastal systems under changing conditions. It is also improving understanding of how ecosystems and landscapes respond to episodic events, cumulative stress and slow environmental change. We will develop integrated approaches to identify vulnerabilities, adaptation opportunities and restoration potential across catchments and coasts.
Chief Scientist - Mountains to Sea: Simon Cox
Simon is a geologist and Earth systems scientist who studies how landscapes change due to tectonic activity, climate, erosion, and disturbances across mountains to sea systems. His work integrates geology and environmental science, focusing on geomorphology, hazards, hydrology, and long-term resilience in catchments. He has led major national and international collaborative programs and, as Chief Scientist for the Mountains to Sea flagship is helping develop a systems-based approach to understanding how physical, biological and human processes interact across landscapes, rivers, estuaries and coasts.