High Value Area Surveys
Introduction
In Southland, we are fortunate to still have a landscape scattered with native forest remnants and wetlands. Both the community and individual landowners often use and value these areas which provide habitat for an extraordinary variety of native birds and wildlife. These areas also help to enhance the quality and supply of water, protect from flooding and reduce erosion of the land.
What is the High Value Area programme?
Environment Southland in conjunction with New Zealand Landcare Trust and the Southland District Council have set up the High Value Areas programme to survey remnants of native biodiversity in the region. The aim of the programme is to measure and communicate the state of native habitats in Southland.
Why is Environment Southland doing this programme?
The main reason we are undertaking this programme is to provide factual and reliable information about the natural values present on privately owned property in Southland. We will also provide a range of management options for these natural areas to help interested landowners ensure they will be there for future generations to enjoy. The information from the High Value Area surveys will be used to get a clearer picture of the condition and extent of remaining natural areas in Southland. This will assist Environment Southland to maintain and enhance biodiversity in the region.
What qualifies as a High Value Area?
Any area of native vegetation on private land that lies within the Southland region qualifies. This might be a fragment of old-growth forest, a wetland area, native vegetated stream bank, native scrub or tussock grass, or alpine meadow.
How can I benefit from having a High Value Area survey done on a native area on my property?
A qualified ecologist will write a report for the native area(s) that have been identified on your property and a copy of this will be provided to you free of charge. The report will outline what they recorded during the survey, including any special features of interest with an aerial photo of the area(s). It will describe and identify the vegetation and its condition , record the presence of native fauna (such as birds) which are evident in the area, and list any impacts present that may be affecting the area (such as pest animals). The report will also provide suggestions on how to best manage the area(s) surveyed to protect and enhance their condition.
The information provided by the qualified ecologist will also give you a clearer picture of what parts of the property are likely to be ecologically significant and what parts are not. This will give you a good understanding about what values may need to be managed in the future. Protecting natural areas on your property can add value to it, which has been demonstrated through the recent farm environmental awards. The report will also assist you to seek funding for protecting or restoring the natural values on your property if you wish to do so. A range of organisations provide funding assistance for such protection work and can help to cover expenses such as fencing, planting and pest control.
What is involved in a survey?
Initially you will be contacted by phone from ecologists contracted to Environment Southland. Through the use of aerial photos, they can identify natural habitats in your area. They will discuss the process with you and answer any questions you may have. They will ask permission to undertake a survey on your property. You are under no obligation to grant this and your decision to do so is entirely voluntary.
A survey will involve a visit from the ecologist who will seek information from you about the site(s) to be assessed. The ecologist will then undertake a field survey which will normally take a few hours, depending on the area to be covered. This will involve recording data from area(s) of wetland and native vegetation to assess what is present and its condition. You are welcome to join the ecologists during the survey if you wish.
How do I get a survey done on my property?
You can contact us at any time if you are interested in having this survey done on native areas of your property. Call us on (03) 211 5115, or 0800 76 8845. Alternatively you can email us at service@es.govt.nz or call in and see us at Environment Southland located on the corner of North Rd and Price St in Invercargill.
What happens to the information?
The information will be used by Environment Southland to build up a picture of the remaining natural areas across the Southland region. It will be collated with other survey information and will be used to identify biodiversity trends in the region. This will provide a valuable base line against which future improvements or decline in natural areas can be measured. This overview information will not refer to individual properties.
The information collected does not place any obligations on the landowner, nor does it place any additional protection on the areas surveyed. No formal protection measures can be put in place without Environment Southland, or Southland District Council going through a statutory process under the Resource Management Act. If this were the case, you would have a legal right to submit on any proposal.
Environment Southland sees this programme as a very positive way to promote the protection and improvement of native habitats and wetlands on private property, by directly involving land owners on a voluntary basis.
Southland Environmental Enhancement Fund
Have you thought about applying to the Southland Environmental Enhancement Fund which is used to assist individual landowners and community groups to protect and enhance indigenous biodiversity on private and community-owned land in Southland.
For more information and application forms click here.
Environment Southland is the brand name of Southland Regional Council.