Significant Natural Areas letters in the mail to owners
The Far North District Council has posted letters to about 8000 property owners this week, telling them how they can help protect unique indigenous species and habitats on their land.
The mailout follows a project conducted with other Northland councils to map and identify Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) within each district. The council is required by the Northland Regional Council to identify SNAs, and is also obligated to protect them under the Resource Management Act and by its own district plan.
It is currently developing a new district plan, and is required by the Government to identify and manage potentially sensitive environments more specifically during that process.
A Significant Natural Area is land that has high ecological value due to the native plants and habitats found there, typically native bush that is home to rare or endangered native species.
Mayor John Carter said many Far North property owners would already be aware that they had areas of potential significance on their land.
“The mapping exercise undertaken last year by consultant ecologists Wildland Consultants increased our knowledge of the natural areas in Northland, and we now know that approximately 42 per cent of our district contains potentially sensitive environments. This is an increase from around 30 per cent when the district was last mapped for a similar purpose in the 1990s.”
Mapping involved the analysis of existing information, including Department of Conservation protected natural area maps, as well as using updated aerial imagery and site visits to ensure the accuracy of SNA mapping. About half of the land identified by the mapping exercise was within the DoC estate, but Carter said some landowners would be learning about SNAs on their properties for the first time, and might have concerns. “For most, this will have very little impact. There is no requirement to protect the SNA through fencing, covenants or other methods, unless you intend to develop or subdivide the land.”
The proposed district plan would include specific rules for SNAs related to clearing vegetation or when subdividing, and that was when landowners might need to apply for resource consent. Potential benefits of identifying remaining sensitive areas included protecting the district’s archaeological, geological and cultural heritage; boosting science, research, and educational opportunities; and increasing tourism, especially ecotourism. Protecting SNAs could also improve overall resilience to the effects of climate change.
Carter said some compensation was available when protecting sensitive areas via a council conservation or a private covenant. That could include rates remissions for voluntary conservation covenants. Property owners who were contacted about SNAs would also receive a feedback form.
The full extent of the mapped areas could be seen by viewing the draft district plan online www.letsplantogether. org.nz.