4. Use of Natural and Physical Resources Volume One can be found in the Marlborough Sounds, including tuatara, the Maud Island and Hamilton frogs and the Cook Strait giant weta. The pest free islands (e.g. Maud Island, Stephens Island, Titi Island and Motuara Island) are of particular significance, as they act as a refuge for threatened indigenous species. There is also a marine reserve around Long island. The Marlborough Sounds are also interesting because of the wide range of activities that have occurred there in the past or are undertaken there today. The Marlborough Sounds have long been settled by Māori, possibly stretching back as far as 1,000 years. Many of Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi retain strong connections with the Marlborough Sounds and place great importance on their links to traditional sites, both on land and in the sea. The Marlborough Sounds were also a focal point for interaction between European and Māori cultures pre- and post-colonisation. European explorers, whalers, sealers and settlers all came to the Marlborough Sounds. In some ways, this settlement trend continues today as people are still choosing to move here. Since the early days of interaction between the two cultures, the Marlborough Sounds’ landscape and seascape have been extensively modified by human activity. The most obvious change was caused by the clearance of the original vegetation cover (predominantly bush) to allow for pastoral farming, followed in some areas by exotic forestry. Commercial fishing also had early beginnings, while the waters of Queen Charlotte Sound and Tory Channel have provided a vital transportation link between North and South Islands. A more recent trend has been the growth of the marine farming industry, with the establishment of over 570 farms around the Sounds. All of these activities continue today, although many pastoral farms have been left to revert to indigenous forest and shrub cover. The combination of land and water also creates a stunning coastal environment that attracts people to live or holiday in the Marlborough Sounds, creating unique coastal communities in the process. This is reflected in the many houses and holiday homes adjacent to the foreshore. The Marlborough Sounds are also a recreational playground, with many opportunities to tramp, cycle, swim, boat, sail, dive and fish. For those less actively inclined, there is also the ability to get away from it all and relax. Others choose to explore and experience the many different parts of the Marlborough Sounds by road or sea. The use and development of natural and physical resources within the Marlborough Sounds creates the potential for environmental change. As noted above, the Marlborough Sounds is a dynamic environment and has a certain capacity to absorb change. However, there are visual, ecological and physical qualities that make a critical contribution to the character of the Marlborough Sounds. If these qualities are adversely affected by the use and development of natural and physical resources, this will adversely affect the way in which the community and visitors perceive and value the Marlborough Sounds. [RPS] Objective 4.3 – The maintenance and enhancement of the visual, ecological and physical qualities that contribute to the character of the Marlborough Sounds. The Marlborough Sounds is a truly exceptional place – it is considered to be our “jewel in the crown” in terms of natural assets. The landscapes and seascapes within the Marlborough Sounds and the ecology and natural processes that occur within them are unique and highly valued. This objective seeks to maintain and enhance these qualities to ensure that the community and visitors to the district can continue to enjoy this environment now and into the future. This does not mean that use and development of natural and physical resources cannot occur within the Marlborough Sounds, but an element of precaution needs to be exercised to ensure that resource use is complimentary to the visual, ecological and physical qualities that give the Marlborough Sounds its iconic character. 4 – 8