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Significant natural areas of the Thames-Coromandel district: Terrestrial and wetland ecosystems

TR 2010/36
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Report: TR 2010/36

Author: Kessels & Associates Ltd

Abstract

Waikato Regional Council aims to prioritise areas for biodiversity management based on different ecosystems. In order to do so, features of existing habitats of indigenous flora and fauna (natural areas) are described and their ecological value assessed for each territorial authority within the Waikato region. 

The report assesses a desk-top exercise that has been taken to assess the significance of natural areas within the Thames-Coromandel District using existing information. Only indigenous terrestrial (including offshore islands, sand dunes and shingle beaches) and freshwater wetland natural areas were assessed as part of this inventory, although some coastal ecosystems were partly assessed if they were not previously mapped as part of anyother Waikato Regional Council natural area assessment projects. Significant natural areas of other ecosystem types are published in separate reports

Significant natural areas of the Thames-Coromandel district: Terrestrial and wetland ecosystems [PDF, 5.4 MB]

Contents
  Executive summary 4
1 Introduction 7
2 Objectives 7
3 Methodology 8
3.1 General approach 8
3.2 Key tasks 8
3.2.1 Literature review 8
3.2.2 Mapping, vegetation classification and quantifying existing natural features 9
3.2.3 Ecological significance ranking 9
3.3 Data set accuracy 11
3.3.1 Geographic extent 11
3.3.2 Positional accuracy 11
3.3.3 Attribute accuracy 12
4 Description of natural features and key protected areas 15
4.1 General overview 15
4.2 Colville ecological district 15
4.2.1 Background 15
4.2.2 Bioclimatic zones 16
4.2.3 Geology and soils 16
4.2.4 Vegetation 16
4.2.5 Flora 17
4.2.6 Fauna 17
4.2.7 Protected areas 18
4.3 Mercury Islands ecological district 18
4.3.1 Background and protected natural areas 18
4.3.2 Bioclimatic zones 19
4.3.3 Geology and soils 19
4.3.4 Vegetation 20
4.3.5 Fauna 20
4.3.6 Island restoration 20
4.4 Thames ecological district 21
4.4.1 Background 21
4.4.2 Bioclimatic zones 22
4.4.3 Geology and soils 22
4.4.4 Vegetation 22
4.4.5 Flora 22
4.4.6 Fauna 23
4.4.7 Protected areas 24
4.5 Tairua ecological district 24
4.5.1 Background 24
4.5.2 Bioclimatic zones 24
4.5.3 Geology and soils 24
4.5.4 Vegetation 25
4.5.5 Flora 25
4.5.6 Fauna 26
4.5.7 Protected areas 27
4.6 Waihi ecological district 27
4.6.1 Background 27
4.6.2 Bioclimatic zones and geology 27
4.6.3 Vegetation 28
4.6.4 Flora 28
4.6.5 Fauna 29
4.6.6 Protected areas 29
4.7 Hauraki ecological district 29
4.7.1 Bioclimatic zones and geology 29
4.7.2 Vegetation 29
4.7.3 Key protected natural areas 30
5 Threatened species 30
5.1 Summary of species recorded 30
5.2 Threatened flora species 30
5.3 Threatened fauna species 32
6 Significant natural areas analysis 35
6.1 Significant natural areas 35
6.2 BIOVEG vegetation class analysis 36
6.3 Limitations of the assessment 37
7 Conclusions and recommendations 40
7.1 Conclusions 40
7.2 Recommendations 41
7.2.1 Ecological restoration priorities for the Thames-Coromandel district 41
7.2.2 Colville ecological ED 42
7.2.3 Mercury Islands ED 42
7.2.4 Thames ED 42
7.2.5 Tairua ecological ED 42
7.2.6 Waihi and Hauraki ecological districts 43
  Acknowledgements 44
  Glossary 44
  References and selected bibliography 45
  Appendix I - Key data sets and literature for assessment of natural areas of the
Thames-Coromandel district		 49
  Appendix II - Criteria for the assessment of significance and reasons for why a natural
area is significant		 51
  Appendix III - Guidelines for assessing the relative importance of a significant area of
indigenous vegetation or significant habitat of indigenous fauna		 63
  Appendix IV - Guidelines for the assessment of significance and relative importance of a
significant natural area based on the updated New Zealand Threat Classification System		 71
  Appendix V - Confidence levels for assessment of significance and relative importance
of significant natural areas		 75
  Appendix VI - Metadata for the "Significant Natural Areas - Thames-Coromandel District"
data set		 77
  Appendix VII - Selected ground photographs of natural areas of the Thames-Coromandel district 100