Volume One 6. Natural Character 6. Natural Character Introduction Natural character includes the natural elements, patterns, processes and experiential qualities of an environment. The natural character of the coastal environment, and freshwater bodies and their margins, is comprised of a number of key components which include: • coastal or freshwater landforms and landscapes (including seascape); • coastal or freshwater physical processes (including the movement of water and sediments); • biodiversity (including individual indigenous species, their habitats and communities they form); • biological processes and patterns; • water flows and levels, and water quality; and • the ways in which people experience the natural elements, patterns and processes. Collectively, these combine to create the overall natural character of the environment. Provisions included elsewhere in the Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP) target the individual components of natural character and provide direction on how adverse effects on particular values can be managed. These include: • Chapter 5 - Allocation of Public Resources • Chapter 7 - Landscape • Chapter 8 - Indigenous Biodiversity • Chapter 9 - Public Access and Open Space • Chapter 13 - Use of the Coastal Environment • Chapter 15 - Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) However, there is a need for this management to be integrated in order to preserve natural character in coastal and freshwater environments. This ensures that the management of the individual components of natural character is co-ordinated to achieve a common end in the context of Section 6(a) of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS) and of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPSFM). Issue 6A – Resource use and changes in resource use can result in the degradation of the natural character of the coastal environment, and of lakes, rivers and their margins. Section 6(a) of the RMA requires the Council to preserve the natural character of the coastal environment, wetlands, and lakes, rivers and their margins and to protect this natural character from inappropriate subdivision, use and development. The NZCPS sets a similar objective for the coastal environment. The entire coastal environment and all freshwater bodies possess some or all of the components of natural character (natural elements, patterns, processes and experiential qualities) and therefore all hold some degree of natural character. The extent of human-induced modification 6 – 1