Summary 2007-08

 

Overview

· Northland Regional Council (NRC) is one of Northland's primary environmental guardians.

· NRC is one of the key agencies responsible for implementing the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy in Northland.

· Over the last 160 years of European settlement, 95% of forest and wetland habitats in Northland have been lost.

· Northland has the third highest number of acutely threatened species of all regions in New Zealand.

· NRC is working with other organisations, landowners and communities to conserve and enhance biodiversity values in Northland.

Performance Targets

To promote the sustainable management of land, including soil, water, and ecosystems in the Northland Region by:

· Developing and promoting indigenous biodiversity policies for Northland - ACHIEVED

· Supporting biodiversity protection and enhancement on private land, by community groups, and through the Environment Fund - ACHIEVED

· Designing and setting up an indigenous biodiversity database for Northland by 30 June 2007 - ACHIEVED

· Inviting applications for financial support from the Environment Fund and reporting on applications and projects on an annual basis - ACHIEVED

Summary of Results 2007-08

· A report commissioned by NRC found that:

- 37% of Northland is still under indigenous vegetation cover

- Of this, 20% is classified as ‘National Priority One' habitat (acutely or chronically threatened)

- Only 5.9% of priority one habitat in Northland receives legal protection

- A further 7.85% of native vegetation is protected by designation however there are no minimum standards of care for these sites

· During 2007-08 NRC staff recorded 63 biodiversity enquiries.

· $520,000 was allocated through the NRC Environment Fund to 150 projects aimed at conserving or enhancing natural values in Northland.

· A project was launched to map and assess all wetland habitats in Northland and record these details in a new wetlands database.