State of the Environment Report on Biodiversity 2011 L. Honnor, E. Batelaan and D. Zucchetto 10/109002 Contents: Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Why Monitor The State Of The Environment? .................................................................................... 3 1.2 Approach Taken By This Report ......................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Indicators And State Of The Environment Reporting .......................................................................... 5 1.4 State Of The Environment Reporting And The Annual Resource Consents And Complaints Monitoring Reports .............................................................................................................................. 6 2. Biodiversity .............................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 What Is Biodiversity? ........................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Why Protecting Biodiversity Is Important............................................................................................. 7 2.2.1 Legal Mandate .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.2 Economic Benefits ...................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Social Benefits ............................................................................................................................ 11 2.2.4 Cultural Benefits.......................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.5 Intrinsic Values............................................................................................................................ 12 2.3 Threats To Biodiversity ...................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Habitat Loss And Fragmentation ................................................................................................ 12 2.3.2 Invasive Species ......................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Over-exploitation ......................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.4 Pollution ...................................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.5 Climate Change .......................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.6 Spread Of Disease ..................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.7 Stochastic Catastrophic Disturbances ........................................................................................ 15 2.3.8 Small Population Size, And Restricted Distribution .................................................................... 16 2.3.9 Activity Specific Threats .............................................................................................................. 16 2.3.10 Lack of Management Sustainability .......................................................................................... 18 3. State Of Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................. 19 3.1 Ecosystems ....................................................................................................................................... 19 3.1.1 Land Cover Database ................................................................................................................. 19 3.1.2 Land Environments ..................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.3 Ecosystem Types........................................................................................................................ 28 3.1.4 Ecological Districts ...................................................................................................................... 29 3.1.5 Protected Natural Areas Programme ......................................................................................... 32 3.1.6 Threatened Environments .......................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Species .............................................................................................................................................. 37 3.2.1 Threatened Species .................................................................................................................... 37 3.2.2 Distribution .................................................................................................................................. 39 3.2.3 Status/Trend ............................................................................................................................... 47 4. Protected Areas ..................................................................................................................................... 51 4.1 Public Conservation Land (Department of Conservation) ................................................................. 51 4.1.1 Reserves ..................................................................................................................................... 51 4.1.2 Nga Whenua Rahui Kawenata ................................................................................................... 51 4.2 Whangarei District Council ................................................................................................................ 53 4.2.1 Whangarei District Council Reserves ......................................................................................... 53 4.2.2 Conservation Covenants ............................................................................................................ 53 4.3 Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Open Space Covenants .............................................................. 57 4.4 Northland Regional Council Community Pest Control Areas ............................................................ 61 4.5 Fish and Game New Zealand Wetlands........................................................................................... 61 4.6 New Zealand Native Forest Restoration Trust Reserve .................................................................... 62 4.7 Protected Area Network-New Zealand .............................................................................................. 62 5. Areas Receiving Active Management ................................................................................................. 63 5.1 Public Conservation Reserves .......................................................................................................... 63 5.2 Nga Whenua Rahui Kawenata .......................................................................................................... 67 5.3 Whangarei District Council ................................................................................................................ 67 5.3.1 Parks And Reserves .................................................................................................................. 67 5.3.2 Conservation Covenants ........................................................................................................... 67 5.3.3 Environmental Enhancement Fund ........................................................................................... 69 5.3.4 Environment Advice Fund ........................................................................................................... 69 5.4 QEII National Trust Open Space Covenants .................................................................................... 71 5.5 Northland Regional Council ............................................................................................................... 72 5.5.1 Environment Fund....................................................................................................................... 72 5.5.2 Community Pest Control Areas .................................................................................................. 73 5.6 Fish and Game New Zealand Wetlands ............................................................................................ 73 5.7 NZ Native Forest Restoration Trust Reserve .................................................................................... 74 5.8 Managed Areas Without Formal Protection ..................................................................................... 74 5.8.1 Landcare Groups ....................................................................................................................... 74 5.8.2 Coastcare Groups .....................................................................................................................