Volume One 8. Indigenous Biodiversity • through the annual planning process, consider granting reductions in rating for properties where sites are protected through conservation covenants; • from funding made available by central government for the protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and habitats of indigenous fauna; • by prioritising available funds for significant sites where sites are subject to protective covenants; • through appropriate investigations to improve our understanding of the nature and state of indigenous biodiversity in Marlborough; and • through supporting initiatives developed by community and industry groups to promote protection and restoration of indigenous biodiversity. 8.M.7 Information Increasing the knowledge and understanding of landowners and the public of the occurrence of significant areas of ecological value not only leads to greater appreciation of those values, but can motivate voluntary action to maintain and enhance indigenous biodiversity. The type of information already available or to be provided includes: • information to individual landowners through the ‘Marlborough Significant Natural Areas’ programme and the Department of Conservation ‘Protected Natural Areas’ survey programme on sites of significant indigenous biodiversity on private land, on the issues affecting the sites and suggestions for future management of the sites; • based on knowledge through the survey programmes, a summary overview of significant natural areas in south and north Marlborough; • newsletters for the public about the achievements being made on private land to protect and/or enhance biodiversity in Marlborough; • web-based information on Marlborough’s indigenous biodiversity, the various programmes of support available and guidelines on various issues; • on specific issues affecting indigenous biodiversity through groups such as the Sounds Advisory Group; • through maintenance of a database that records studies of marine areas undertaken by a variety of science providers. (This database is available on the Council’s website.) The studies undertaken include those for resource consent applications or other scientific investigation, e.g. those undertaken on dusky dolphins in Admiralty Bay; • encouraging the implementation of regimes such as voluntary retirement of land from farming, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust and other covenants, the establishment of reserves and voluntary restoration to achieve the protection of areas of significance; • state of the environment reporting on the extent and condition of Marlborough’s biodiversity; and. • fact sheets on effective methods to control undesirable plants and animals and opportunities for private land to be covenanted. 8.M.8 Guidelines Guidelines have already been developed by the Council and other agencies for a range of aspects concerning biodiversity, including: • to help interested landowners identify and clarify both production and ecological values on private property and develop practical and specific management strategies to balance these; • which species are suitable for planting in south Marlborough, including for different areas and ecosystems. The guide (produced in conjunction with the Department of 8 – 15