Volume One 8. Indigenous Biodiversity Objective 8.2 – An increase in area/extent of Marlborough’s indigenous biodiversity and restoration or improvement in the condition of areas that have been degraded. While protection of remaining areas of indigenous biodiversity is important, so too is the restoration and re-establishment of some of what has been lost or degraded. Restoration means the active intervention and management of degraded biotic communities, landforms and landscapes to enhance biological character, ecological and physical processes. If restoration and re-establishment does not occur then indigenous biodiversity will remain seriously threatened and be vulnerable to further decline, especially in lowland southern Marlborough. Given the important roles that wetlands can play and as many wetlands in Marlborough are in poor condition, it is important to improve their extent and condition. The creation of new wetlands will also help to increase the overall size and stock of wetland habitat in Marlborough. It is acknowledged that in some hill country areas extensive natural regeneration has occurred and this has already helped to increase the extent of Marlborough’s indigenous biodiversity. Although there is a natural ability of many species to regenerate given the right circumstances, some species cannot as they are too few in number, sometimes down to single individuals. In many cases, the propagation and replanting of plants is needed to establish a centre from which natural regeneration is possible. Identification of sites, areas and habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity value Policy 8.1.1 – When assessing whether wetlands, marine or terrestrial ecosystems, habitats and areas have significant indigenous biodiversity value, the following criteria will be used: (a) representativeness; (b) rarity; (c) diversity and pattern; (d) distinctiveness; (e) size and shape; (f) connectivity/ecological context; (g) sustainability; and (h) adjacent catchment modifications. For a site to be considered significant, one of the first four criteria (representativeness, rarity, diversity and pattern or distinctiveness/special ecological characteristics) must rank medium or high. To determine whether a site is significant for the purposes of Section 6(c) of the RMA, an assessment needs to be made by the Council or others against consistently applied criteria. The criteria identified in this policy (further explained in Appendix 3), have been used by the Council previously to identify and encourage opportunities for the conservation of natural features on private land in Marlborough and will enable assessments to be made in the future where none have occurred to date. The same criteria have also been used in identifying wetlands of significance in Marlborough and in identifying areas in the coastal marine area with significant indigenous biodiversity value. Policy 8.1.2 – Sites in the coastal marine area and natural wetlands assessed as having significant indigenous biodiversity value will be specifically identified in the Marlborough Environment Plan. Significant wetlands have been identified in the MEP because these small and fragmented areas are all that remain of the once vast areas of wetland that covered lowland Marlborough. It is important to ensure the values of the significant wetlands are protected. Areas that meet the 8 – 5