Significant natural areas (SNA) of the Waikato region - Karst ecosystems report

Report: TR 2017/35

Authors: Ryan Clark, Chris Floyd and Bruce Clarkson (Environmental Research Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato)

Regional and district councils are required by the Resource Management Act to recognise and provide protection for areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna.

The University of Waikato was engaged to identify karst areas of potential ecological significance within the Waikato, and to prioritise karst areas for biodiversity management.

A preliminary assessment was undertaken in 2008/09 [Floyd & Clarkson 2009] which identified the likely extent of karst within the Waikato. This report incorporates and updates the 2009 output, and includes an assessment of identified karst SNA sites in terms of both their geomorphological and ecological significance.

This second output also provides a record of sites containing karst associated threatened species, together with an assessment of each site for the presence of four karst-associated ecosystem types that are recognised as historically rare1 in New Zealand. Both stages of this project have utilised existing spatial data and literature sources. While the locations of many karst features have been newly collated for this study, no field survey has been conducted.