Chapter 4 - Flora and Fauna and their Habitats environment, should be avoided as far as practicable. Where complete avoidance is not practicable, the adverse effects should be mitigated and provision made for remedying those effects to the extent practicable. The Wairau/Awatere Plan area has been highly modified and therefore the distribution of areas of significant indigenous vegetation has become fragmented such that the need for their protection is greater. The criteria for determining significance (Policy 1.8), are those that have been used by the Council, in surveying sites of significance through its ‘Significant Natural Areas’ programme in the Plan area. For consistency with that survey work, the same assessment criteria have been included in the Plan. The criteria are set out in more detail in Appendix C. Some special ecosystems and species in the region are not protected at all. Others are not accorded an appropriate level of protection, or once protected, are not properly managed to protect or enhance their ecological values. Areas are too small to be viable and others have been badly damaged by introduced plants or animals. In some cases reserve boundaries no longer encompass the location of the population of the species to be protected. The protection and management of remnant ecosystems on private land can be difficult to implement, especially in agricultural areas. This is of particular concern in relation to indigenous forest, wetlands and shrublands. There is concern that if we manage only protected areas, rather than the wider environment surrounding special ecosystems, the health of both the special ecosystems and the surrounding environment will be threatened. As many remnant indigenous ecosystems are small and dispersed, their viability, and the viability of species within them, is endangered. Inappropriate developments have been allowed to further fragment and isolate ecosystems. A number of introduced plants and animals in the region are environmentally damaging. The main problems include Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba), hieracium, briar, pigs, deer, goats, rabbits, feral cats, rodents, mustelids, hedgehogs and possums. There are a range of responses in dealing with undesirable plants and animals. This includes through the Council’s regional pest management strategy, national pest management strategies and at times direct funding to landowners to help protect significant sites from pests. There are also other statutes such as the Wild Animals Control Act that control the farming of animals that have the potential to become pests. 4.2.3 Methods of Implementation Rules Rules will control vegetation and habitat disturbance. Rules will require ecological surveys and management plans in conjunction with resource consent applications in areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant indigenous fauna habitat. Education Increasing landowners and the public’s knowledge and understanding of the occurrence of significant areas of ecological value not only leads to greater appreciation of those values but also the protection of the indigenous flora and fauna. This increased understanding can motivate voluntary action to maintain and enhance indigenous flora and fauna. Voluntary action includes the use of private conservation covenants on property titles. The Council will promote, and provide information on the need to protect the ecology of wetland areas. 4 - 5