Volume One 8. Indigenous Biodiversity 8. Indigenous Biodiversity Introduction New Zealand’s biodiversity gives our country a unique character and is internationally important. A large proportion of our species are endemic to New Zealand and if they become extinct they are lost to the world. About 90 percent of New Zealand insects, 80 percent of trees, ferns and flowering plants, 25 percent of bird species, all 60 reptile species, four frog species and two species of bat are endemic. New Zealand’s biodiversity has helped shape our national identity, with our distinctive flora and fauna contributing to our sense of belonging. The koru and kiwi are internationally recognised. Biodiversity also provides social and economic benefits through recreational opportunities, tourism, research, education, provision of ecosystem services and natural resources for primary industry and customary and medical uses. The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) requires the Council to recognise and provide for as a matter of national importance the protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna (Section 6(c)). The protection of these values, whether on land, in freshwater or coastal environments, also helps to achieve other matters of national importance, including landscape and natural character values and historic heritage. However, biodiversity values are also important components of amenity, kaitiakitanga, quality of the environment and ecosystem values, matters to which regard shall be had in terms of Section 7 of the RMA. For this reason there are important links between the provisions of this chapter and others in the Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP). In addition, there are specific roles and functions in relation to protecting significant natural areas and habitats and maintaining indigenous biological diversity. These functions enable the Council to: establish, implement and review objectives, policies and methods for maintaining indigenous biological diversity [Section 30(1)(ga)]; and control any actual or potential effects of the use, development or protection of land for the purpose of maintaining indigenous biological diversity [Section 31(1)(b)(iii)]. Marlborough’s central location within New Zealand and its varied landforms, climate and rich human history combine to form an interesting and diverse area. The District has a range of important and unusual natural features, native plants and animals, a number of which are at their southern or northern limits of distribution. Part of south Marlborough has been identified as one of five areas of high biodiversity concentration within New Zealand. Importantly, Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi have a significant interest in the protection, management and restoration of indigenous biodiversity, having developed relationships based on whakapapa, mahinga kai and kaitiakitanga developed over centuries of occupation, close interaction and use of natural resources. Whakapapa provides the links or connections between people and all things, including plants and animals. Mahinga kai is based on the sustainable gathering of food and resources, the places where they are gathered, the resources themselves and the passing on of knowledge about these resources. Kaitiakitanga is a responsibility to ensure that the mauri of natural resources is healthy and strong and that the life supporting capacity of these ecosystems is preserved. Although the focus of the RMA is on indigenous biodiversity, it is important to recognise that some parts of Marlborough have been modified as a result of a variety of land uses over many years. As has occurred throughout New Zealand, Marlborough’s natural environment has been highly modified from that which would have existed prior to human arrival. This has resulted in a range 8 – 1