Wairau/ Awatere Resource Management Plan Lowland ecosystems For the purposes of the plan lowland ecosystems are generally located at altitudes below 1000 m. Lowland ecosystems generally support a high diversity of plant and animal life but are also most affected by human activities and pests. Draining of wetlands to produce farmland has accounted for a significant loss from total area of the indigenous lowland ecosystems in Marlborough. Of the remaining unmodified lowland habitats found in Marlborough, a significant proportion remain unprotected, including wetlands, shrublands, dunelands, and other herb communities. The Wairau/ Awatere Plan area is one of five important areas in New Zealand, where a large number of locally endemic plants and animals (lizards and invertebrates) have evolved and do not occur naturally anywhere else in the world. These are typically dry country communities. Numbers have declined since human occupation. Some plant species now only continue to survive through their relative inaccessibility high on bluffs and other rockland areas. The plan area is also notable for the ecologically important regenerating shrublands and areas of indigenous vegetation, particularly those on ultramafic, calcareous and alluvial soils. Given the extent of modification of natural communities within the plan area, indigenous forest is now considered rare. Early occupation coupled with the relative accessibility of much of the Wairau/ Awatere area led to widespread removal and modification of the original vegetation cover. Because modification for pastoral development was relatively easier than other parts of the country, proportionally greater areas above 1000 metres have been retained in private use. The removal of vegetation, the easily eroded rock types and slower recovery rates in the drier climate and major competition from exotic species has produced widespread loss of habitat. As a result, the distribution of remaining endemic species has become fragmented. Key Values and Threats To Upland Ecosystems Major Values Major Threats Mt Richmond large contiguous forest tract, habitat for wide ranging bird goats, possums species numerous endemic plants goats Powelliphanta hochstetteri consobri na land snails pigs ultramafic plant communities and threatened endemic goats, wilding pines, invasive plant species pests remote experience recreation opportunities track development, concessions Inland Marlborough large extensive beech forests in the west fire, goats tussock habitat essential for vulnerable birds such as kea development, pines invasive plant and falcon species eg Hieracium extensive tall tussock associations development, pines invasive plant species scree communities with endemic species chamois, sheep, goats, invasive plant species invasive plant species, eg Hieracium Western Molesworth unique communities of plants and animals at Sedgemere stock, aquatic plant pests, Canada tarns geese, oversowing northern limits for a range of species stock, goats, rabbits 4 - 2