Significant Indigenous Vegetation & Significant Habitats of Indigenous Fauna

This factor, under section 17(2)(b) of the Act, is relevant for overseas investments that include sensitive areas of vegetation and fauna, which require mechanisms for protecting or enhancing in that region.

Sensitive areas of vegetation and fauna include areas that:

• have vegetation that has suffered relatively low degrees of modification since the arrival of Europeans or is the subject of significant natural or human-induced restoration (i.e. has a high degree of naturalness or the potential to regain that in the foreseeable future)
• have vegetation that is part of a continuous sequence of several vegetation types (for example altitudinal, from wet to dry, across geological gradients)
• have vegetation that provides a useful extension to, or buffer for, an adjacent protected or unprotected natural area, or in some other way (for example as a source of seeds) supports the viability of a protected or unprotected natural area in the local area
• contains taxa that are only present in that location (i.e. are or would be classified as “one location” taxa under the threat classification system)
• contain significant or viable populations of taxa that are classified as nationally critical, nationally endangered, nationally vulnerable or in serious decline
• contain the only local population or an important local population of a taxon that is classified as range restricted or sparse or in gradual decline
• contain a population of an indigenous taxa which is of particular scientific or genetic significance (for example the type locality of the taxa, populations at the limits of the range of species, populations in unusual habitats), and
• provide an important resource for a significant population of a migratory indigenous taxa or an indigenous taxa which uses a range of resources across a large territory.

Some degree of uncertainty is likely to be encountered when compiling evidence about sensitive areas of vegetation or habitats of fauna. The Department of Conservation has already identified many sensitive areas through its “Protected natural areas programme” and through surveys, and some information will be available from its regional offices. Local authority district plans and regional plans will also set out any areas sensitive to the region and rules or conditions that apply to these areas.

Key attributes to consider are the:

• natural character of the land - the dominance of indigenous species and the degree to which the area has been affected by human disturbances over time
• viability potential of the land - which is the potential for the natural regeneration of vegetation and re-colonisation of indigenous species
• representativeness - i.e. the current extent of the vegetation/habitats as a proportion of the total remaining, and the proportion included in the protected area network
• diversity - i.e. the range of natural attributes of the area/habitat
• distinctive state - how closely the vegetation and fauna compare to other areas in the region and on the property itself (for example are there some habitats that are unusual or uncommon to the area or that particular property), and
• threatened state - are any of the flora or fauna species present on the property considered to be in threatened state either within the region or on a national basis.

In the wider context, areas of vegetation and habitats must be considered as a whole because a combination of attributes for an area can have higher significance than each attribute on its own.

Applicants can protect or enhance areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna by many methods, including:

• controlling weeds and pests, for example, removing wilding pines
• restoring areas to their natural state by planting native species that naturally occur at the site
• fencing areas from stock
• constructing fire breaks and controlling human-induced erosion, and
• protecting areas under the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust Act 1977, or the Reserves Act 1977.

Report

The OIO requires a report on the current and proposed mechanisms for protecting or enhancing existing areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna.

The report should detail:

• the existing areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna on the land
• the extent to which the proposed mechanisms will protect or enhance that vegetation or fauna
• a conservation plan detailing the measures to be undertaken
• the capital expenditure (if any) required
• any uncertainties or contingencies relating to the achievement of the benefits claimed under this factor, and
• the timeframe within which the measures are to be put in place.

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