Volume Three Appendix 3 Appendix 3 Ecological Significance Criteria for terrestrial, wetland and coastal environments The following provides explanations or guidelines for the application of ecological significance criteria in the assessment of sites. Rankings within each criterion are: H = High; M = Medium; L = Low. They collectively contribute to an overall ranking, indicating the degree of significance. For a site to be considered significant, one of the first four criteria (representativeness, rarity, diversity and pattern or distinctiveness) must rank M or H. Representativeness 1. Indigenous vegetation or habitat of indigenous fauna that is representative, typical or characteristic of the natural diversity of the relevant ecological district. This can include degraded examples where they are some of the best remaining examples of their type, or represent all that remains of indigenous biodiversity in some areas. 2. Indigenous vegetation or habitat of indigenous fauna that is a relatively large example of its type within the relevant ecological district. 3. Additionally for the coastal marine area the site is significant if it contains biological features (habitat, species, community) that represent a good example within the biogeographic area. H: The site contains one of the best examples of the characteristic ecosystem types in the region or ecological district or biogeographic area for sites within the coastal marine area. M : The site contains one of the better examples, but not the best, of the characteristic ecosystem types in the region or ecological district or biogeographic area for sites within the coastal marine area. L:The site contains an example, but not one of the better or best, of the characteristic ecosystem types in the region or ecological district or biogeographic area for sites within the coastal marine area. Rarity 4. Indigenous vegetation or habitat of indigenous fauna that has been reduced to less than 20% of its former extent in Marlborough, or relevant land environment, ecological district, or freshwater environment. 5. Indigenous vegetation or habitat of indigenous fauna that supports an indigenous species that is threatened, at risk, or uncommon, nationally or within the relevant ecological district or biogeographic area for sites within the coastal marine area. 6. The site contains indigenous vegetation or an indigenous species that is endemic to Marlborough or that are at distributional limits within Marlborough. H: The site contains nationally threatened or rare flora, fauna or communities; or the site contains several examples of regionally or locally threatened or rare flora, fauna or communities. App 3 - 1