Objectives and Vision

• To retain and enhance the varied landscape qualities of the District.
• To protect and enhance the natural resources within the District that are valued for their intrinsic, scientific, educational and recreational values.
• To avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of activities that have the potential to compromise, damage or destroy significant areas of indigenous vegetation and habitats of indigenous fauna.
• To permanently protect outstanding natural features, areas of indigenous vegetation, or habitats of indigenous fauna at the time of subdivision, use and development.

	Indigenous Vegetation Of the 24603.9 hectares of indigenous vegetation within the Matamata-Piako District, in excess of 253 hectares, or 1% is protected by way of QEII covenants. While this does not appear to be a significant proportion, it should be remembered that most of the districts indigenous vegetation is on land owned by the Department of Conservation and is not available for development. Of the land with indigenous vegetation that is held within private ownership, 253 hectares is likely to be quite significant.
	Plant and Animal Pests At number plant and animal pest control operations are underway within he district. Environment Waikato administers four of these operations, and one is a local community programme
	Habitat Fragmentation While there is no evidence from Council's monitoring that fragmentation is occurring, records are very recent and a trend over time will need to be developed to provide a more clear indication.
	Community Actions Community awareness and actions in the protections of natural areas is above the regional average
	Soil Health Much of the district's peat soils are in and around the Kopuatai Peat Dome which is protected and maintained in a sustainable manner. However, there are some areas of peat within the district which are not protected, or have no special management requirements.

"Natural Environment" means indigenous ecosystems, such as wetlands, lakes, bush, forests and geothermal areas. It includes the physical as well as biological components of natural areas, but does not include amenity values."