Threatened species helped

Closer monitoring of land protected by conservation covenants has led to positive gains for the ecology of the Thames-Coromandel district.

But there remains plenty of work to be done to ensure wetlands continue to provide habitat for plant and animal species under serious threat, according to an independent report commissioned by Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC).

Almost double the amount of wetland areas have been placed under protective covenants in the past year, from 9ha in 2006 to approximately 17ha in 2007. However this type of habitat still occupies only one percent of the total area protected by covenant, a legally binding protection agreement that is registered on the title of the land forever.

Covenants are an important tool in protecting features of the land, and wetlands support a range of plant and animal species as well as being able to filter and clean the water that flows through them.

Monitoring of TCDC’s conservation covenants was completed between July 2007 and January this year as part of the council’s Biodiversity Strategy. In the previous 18 months, 34 new covenants had been added to the list, resulting in approximately 1385ha of protected area up from 1299ha in 2006.

The council has tightened up its monitoring of conservation covenants, created as a trade-off for development on the land. Key results from greater monitoring of these covenants show:

· 73% of restoration plantings are in “good” condition compared to 41% in 2006.

· The overall condition of the covenanted land was “good” in 65% of cases compared to 40% in 2006.

· Landowners had “good” commitment in 55% of covenants compared to 34% in 2006.

Threatened bird/plant species are present in 28% of all 237 covenants.

Overall condition of convenanted areas checked was “good” in 65% of cases compared to 40% in the 2006 review. Occasional exceptions include people modifying wetlands with heavy machinery and others allowing dense regeneration of pine trees in newly established re-vegetation plantings.
Covenants in “poor” condition totalled five (11%), two of which were recently established and not the result of landowner neglect. 

Threatened species including brown teal (pateke), banded rail and hard beech were found to be present in two of the new covenants, showing that even small areas of habitat can support species that are under pressure.

“This is all pretty good news. We’re pleased our extra monitoring and tightening up on what we’re accepting from developers at the time that they gain sign-off on their subdivisions is having some effect,” said TCDC Development Planning Manager Mark White.

“We’ll keep our presence up so that landowners know what their requirements are, and we can provide advice, support and motivation where required.”