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3 Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods
3.11 Plants and Animals (Biodiversity)
3.11.2 Important Ecological Areas
Updated November 2002
Many Waikato wetlands are the last remaining representative types found in New Zealand.
The Lower Waikato Wetlands include Mangatawhiri, Whangamarino, Lakes Whangape, Waikare and Waahi, and the Waikato river estuary. Together these wetlands provide breeding and wintering grounds for a range of wetland birds, including a number of endangered species. The Whangamarino in particular, supports a large number of endemic native plants. The wetlands are also an important habitat for whitebait species, eels and mullet. Whangamarino (as well as Kopuatai and the Firth of Thames) has been accorded international status as a Ramsar1 site, signifying its importance to conservation world-wide. (Refer also to section 3.4.8 Wetlands)
Peat lakes, some containing rare plant associations are scattered throughout the area and unique dune lakes exist in the Lower Waikato area.
The Hauraki-Kopuatai Peat Dome2 is the last surviving raised bog in the Region and is considered unique in world terms. It supports, along with nearby Torehape, several distinct wetland communities, which are home to a number of threatened fish, birds and species of plants (including the Giant Wire Rush, which is endemic and found only here and the Chatham Islands).
The Firth of Thames has over 663 hectares of mangroves. As well as being an important fishery, the wetland provides a wintering ground for wading birds. It supports up to 40,000 birds a year including international migratory birds. It has been accorded international importance under Ramsar.
The Coromandel Peninsula has significant areas of high quality forest, such as the Waitekauri forest, regenerating native forest, diverse coast and marine areas. The entire catchments of many streams in the Coromandel State Forest Park are amongst the most pristine in the Region, and are very important as habitat for native fish and the endangered brown teal. The Moehau ecological area in particular, supports an almost complete altitudinal sequence of plant and animal communities from near sea level to sub-alpine conditions. It is home to a number of rare or endangered endemic species (e.g. land snails, Archey's frog). The Coromandel estuaries are important ecological habitats, for example the Wharekawa Sandspit Wildlife Refuge is habitat for approximately 28 bird species.
The Mercury, Alderman and Cuvier Islands, off the Coromandel Peninsula, are free of goats and possums and are considered to be of national importance. These islands serve as refuges for the preservation and rehabilitation of endangered species. They support threatened and/or endemic communities of seabirds, plants and invertebrates, and a high diversity of reptiles. The Ohinau and Clarke Island groups also support threatened species of flora and fauna.
The Pureora Forest Park includes systems of unmodified altitudinal vegetation sequences, dense lowland, high altitude peat bogs and natural post-Taupo eruption vegetation. It also supports a number of rare and endangered birds, bats and plants as well as regenerating native forest.
Lake Taupo and the Waikato River support rare indigenous species such as Koaro and the New Zealand dabchick. The associated south Taupo wetland is of national significance because of its size and the variety of plant and bird species occurring there. Lake Taupo is also an internationally recognised trout fishery.
Mounts Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngaruahoe, the Region's only National park is a world heritage site and features extensive beech forests, mountain tussockland, fernlands, sedge, rushland, mossfields and alpine plant associations. The Kaimanawa and Tongariro Forest Parks are also important ecosystems.
Geothermal ecosystems are relatively rare on a world-wide basis and only a few remain in an essentially undisturbed natural state. The Waikato Region has greater variety of geothermal ecosystems than any other region, and these areas often contain their own unique flora and fauna, with many primitive and ancient species. (Refer to section 3.7 Geothermal).
The Western King Country Forests include a complete altitudinal sequence of indigenous vegetation, from close to sea level to the crest of the Herangi Range; and the Tawarau State Forest which contains significant limestone and associated features.
The Waitomo Caves and associated King Country Caves and karst3 landscape is the most important speleological resource in the North Island, home to plants which favour limestone conditions, and cave dwelling animals.
Whaingaroa (Raglan), Aotea and Kawhia harbours and the mouths of the Mokau, Marakopa and Waikato Rivers provide an important nursery for fish and habitat for wading birds. Aotea is one of the most pristine harbours in the country because of its rapid water flushing cycle. Whaingaroa (Raglan) and Kawhia harbours contain important geological features. Gannet Island, which is nine nautical miles west of Aotea Harbour, and Albatross Point south of Kawhia Harbour, provide breeding sites for the New Zealand fur seal.
The Pirongia Forest Park and Hakarimata Scenic Reserves are two of the few areas containing lowland streams which retain a native forest cover. These are especially valuable for native fish.
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Footnotes
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), Ramsar Convention for Wetlands of International Significance.
- The Kopuatai, Torehape and Whangamarino wetlands have recently been gazetted as “Government Purpose Reserves - Wetland Management”. This gives full protection to their scientific, wildlife and recreational values.
- See Glossary for definition of karst.