Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 9 Table 5. Criteria for describing the level of effect (Roper-Lindsay et al. 2018) Magnitude of Effect Ecological Value Very High High Moderate Low Negligible Very High Very High Very High High Moderate Low High Very High Very High Moderate Low Very Low Moderate High High Moderate Low Very Low Low Moderate Low Low Very Low Very Low Negligible Low Very Low Very Low Very Low Very Low Positive Net Gain Net Gain Net Gain Net Gain Net Gain The terrestrial vegetation, flora and fauna values within the WNP footprint were assessed based on desktop reviews, site visits and targeted surveys to expand and update a previous study (Bioresearches 2012). The methods used are described below. Fauna considered in this report were vertebrate and include all those that are protected by the Wildlife Act (1953) including frogs, lizards, birds and long-tailed bats. Particular consideration was given where species with a conservation status of nationally ‘At-Risk’ or higher have the potential to be present. Survey methods used for lizards (artificial retreats, pitfall traps, systematic searches) were relied upon to detect invertebrates, such as arthropods, peripatus and molluscs (slugs, snails). Nno ‘significant’ (At Risk, Threatened) invertebrates have previously been recorded or are expected to occur within the Project Area. For example, known ranges of At Risk and Threatened land snails (Paryphanta, Rhytida, Wainuia, Powelliphanta) or three At Risk peripatus species do not overlap in range with the Waihi project area. 3.2 VEGETATION AND FLORA A desktop review was initially undertaken to determine the location and extent of vegetation cover within the WNP area and this informed the site assessment. A ‘walk – through’ method (Atkinson 1962) was used to record and assess all vegetation and flora values, ascertain broad patterns of vegetation types, ages and condition. These assessments were undertaken during site visits in 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019. A broad vegetation community map was initially produced and has been repeatedly refined through time, including within the SNA areas. Vegetation classes (forest, scrub, treeland etc) were described following Singers and Rogers (2014) and Atkinson (1985). 3.2.1 SNA 166 (southern fragment) vegetation plots In 2019, additional data were collected on vegetation and flora within the proposed impact area of the southern fragment of the SNA 166, where TSF3 is proposed. This data was collected using four 20 m x 20 m vegetation plots (Figure 2) representing three types of vegetation within the proposed impact area and wider zone of influenceFigure 2. Within each plot, all plant species and the diameter at breast height (DBH), if over 2.5 cm, were recorded. The Recce method (Hurst & Allen, 2007) was
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