Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 72 Table 13. Assessment of SNA 166 against criteria for determining significance of indigenous biodiversity in accordance with the Waikato Regional Policy Statement (criteria 1-11, Chapter 11A (table 11-1)). Regional Policy Statement Criteria (Chapter 11A, Table 11-1) Assessment 1 It is indigenous vegetation or habitat for indigenous fauna that is currently, or is recommended to be, set aside by statute or covenant or by the Nature Heritage Fund, or Ngā Whenua Rāhui committees, or the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust Board of Directors, specifically for the protection of biodiversity, and meets at least one of criteria 3-11. Not significant- Not currently or recommended to be set aside by statute or covenant specifically for the protection of biodiversity. 2 In the Coastal Marine Area, it is indigenous vegetation or habitat for indigenous fauna that has reduced in extent or degraded due to historic or present anthropogenic activity to a level where the ecological sustainability of the ecosystem is threatened. Not significant- Not in the Coastal Marine Area. 3 It is vegetation or habitat that is currently habitat for indigenous species or associations of indigenous species that are: • classed as threatened or at risk, or • endemic to the Waikato region, or • at the limit of their natural range. Significant •SNA supports ‘At Risk’ moko skinks, localised at two edge sites, rather than within the SNA as a whole. •A stand of kauri occurs on a projection of the northern side of the southern fragment. Entirely grazed beneath this. •Two individuals of rata recorded from northern fragment (Metrosideros perforata & M. robusta). All significant values are outside the footprint 4 It is indigenous vegetation, habitat or ecosystem type that is under-represented (20% or less of its known or likely original extent remaining) in an Ecological District, or Ecological Region, or nationally. Not significant- Threatened Environment Classification for vegetation cover is categorised as >30% left, >20% protected. 5 It is indigenous vegetation or habitat that is, and prior to human settlement was, nationally uncommon such as geothermal, chenier plain, or karst ecosystems, hydrothermal vents or cold seeps. Not significant- ecosystem type is common, regenerating with very low indigenous biodiversity 6 It is wetland habitat for indigenous plant communities and/or indigenous fauna communities (excluding exotic rush/pasture communities) that has not been created and subsequently maintained for or in connection with: • waste treatment; • wastewater renovation; • hydro-electric power lakes (excluding Lake Taupō); • water storage for irrigation; or • water supply storage; unless in those instances they meet the criteria in Whaley et al. (1995). Not significant- Not wetland habitat. 7 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or naturally occurring habitat that is large relative to other examples in the Waikato Region of similar habitat types, and which contains all or almost all indigenous species typical of that habitat type. Note this criterion is not intended to select the largest example only in the Waikato region of any habitat type. Not significant- Area of vegetation is not large with respect to other indigenous vegetation in the Waikato Region. Potentially large in the Waihi ED (although not compared to the southern portion of the Coromandel Forest Park within the ED) but does not contain almost all indigenous species typical of that habitat type. 8 It is aquatic habitat (excluding artificial water bodies, except for those created for the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity or as mitigation as part of a consented activity) that is within a stream, river, lake, groundwater system, wetland, intertidal mudflat or estuary, or any other part of the coastal marine area and their margins, that is critical to the self-sustainability of an indigenous species within a catchment of the Waikato region, or within the coastal marine area. In this context “critical” means essential for a specific component of the life cycle and includes breeding and spawning grounds, juvenile nursery areas, important feeding areas and migratory and dispersal pathways of an indigenous species. This includes areas that maintain connectivity between habitats. Not significant- The SNA is listed in the relevant statutory planning documents as a terrestrial ecosystem, as opposed to being an aquatic habitat. 9 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or habitat that is a healthy and representative example of its type because: • Its structure, composition, and ecological processes are largely intact; and • If protected from the adverse effects of plant and animal pests and of adjacent land and water use (e.g. stock, discharges, erosion, sediment disturbance), can maintain its ecological sustainability over time. Not significant • Vegetation is modified seral scrub with very low diversity throughout- it is not an exceptional, representative example of regenerating broadleaved scrub or kauri podocarp forest, which would have historically occurred at the site. •The plant and fauna diversity is low compared to other naturally regenerating ecosystems (though a localised stand of kauri and two location records of moko skink are distinctive features). •Forest lacks some structural components (forest tiers) due to young age (30-40 years old) and very low diversity. Most notably, while there are trees present at canopy, sub-canopy, understorey and seedling levels, these are generally all dominated by rewarewa, towai and tree ferns and a distinct 'canopy' and 'subcanopy' are not distinguishable. An emergent tree layer is represented by pines throughout. The understorey is generally sparse to open with high light levels throughout, particularly where pine trees are present. •Most of the SNA is fenced from stock, with some breaches on the southern side. Natural regeneration is occurring as evidenced by seedlings throughout and is therefore likely to be ecologically sustainable in the long term. However, given the low diversity and isolation, this fragment would probably rely on external seed source, such as via bird dispersal, for biodiversity to increase. 10 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or habitat that forms part of an ecological sequence, that is either not common in the Waikato region or an ecological district, or is an exceptional, representative example of its type. Not significant- Vegetation is young and regenerating and represents seral scrub with very low diversity throughout- therefore there is no ecological sequence. Vegetation is not an exceptional, representative example of regenerating broadleaved scrub or kauri podocarp forest 11 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or habitat for indigenous species (which habitat is either naturally occurring or has been established as a mitigation measure) that forms, either on its own or in combination with other similar areas, an ecological buffer, linkage or corridor and which is necessary to protect any site identified as significant under criteria 1-10 from external adverse effects. Not significant- While identified as 'locally significant', suggesting that SNA 166 may have potential value as part of a network of natural areas within a landscape, the value of SNA 166 as a buffer, linkage or corridor to other ecologically significant areas is low. Major existing ecological linkages in the surrounding landscape provide greater connectivity between regionally and nationally significant ecological areas in coastal forest north of Waihi Beach (Orokawa Scenic Reserve), Coromandel Forest park and KaimaiMamaku Forest Park, all of which have significantly higher ecological value with respect to connectivity than SNA166.
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