Table 3: Offset Planting Attributes to be achieved at Vent Shaft Offset Planting Area (two 20 m x 20 m plots) Biodiversity attribute Required biodiversity value by 20 years Contingency if not met at 20 years Rationale for Contingency Indigenous Canopy height (m) 6m Tree height to be measured using Range Finder (or similar). Height to be measured at each vegetation monitoring plot within the offset planting area. Continue pest control for at least an additional 5 years, and until tree canopy height of 6 m achieved Like for like not possible (pest control for canopy tree height). Tree height cannot be controlled. However, tree canopy height is a measure of ecosystem and habitat value (taller forest trees can be representative of more mature forest). Therefore, an additional 5 years of pest control is considered appropriate to ensure that other ecosystem integrity and habitat-value parameters are provided for as the offset matures. Relevant additional benefits of pest control that may assist an establishing ecosystem include management of pest browse pressure, regenerating seedlings and avifauna Indigenous canopy species richness (count) 8 species Expected with maintenance of planted species. Continue Pest control for at least an additional 5 years, and until canopy diversity is achieved Like for like not possible (pest control for canopy richness) Indigenous canopy species richness cannot be controlled (other than achieving required diversity at time of planting, and timely replacement of failing plants). However, canopy diversity is a measure of ecosystem and habitat value (forest ecosystems with diverse canopies provide diverse fauna habitats). Therefore, an additional 5 years of pest control is considered appropriate to ensure that other ecosystem integrity and habitat-value parameters are provided for as the offset matures. Relevant additional benefits of pest control that may assist an establishing ecosystem include management of pest browse pressure, regenerating seedlings and avifauna Diversity of native avifauna (count) 10 species (increase 4 spp) A greater diversity of native bird species, consistent with those recorded within Coromandel Forest Park would be expected by 20 years post-planting. We note that some native species recorded in Coromandel Forest Park may not be suited to forest edge habitats and are not expected to permanently occupy revegetation offset areas. Continue Pest control for additional 5 years and until minimum 10 native bird species are recorded from 5 MBC / ARD (acoustic recording device) stations within offset. Like for like Pest predator control is an important driver of avifauna diversity
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