Presenter: Aprille Gillon

1. Presenter: Aprille Gillon Biodiversity Advisor at Greater Wellington Regional Council Wetland Programme Co-ordinator MSc Ecological Restoration (1st Class Honours) and BSc Ecology and Biodiversity & Environmental Studies from Victoria University of Wellington 5 years work experience in Central and Local Government and Private Consultancy

2. Greater Wellington Regional Council: Supporting landowners to meet pNRP wetland rules

3. GW’s Approach: • Identify wetlands and define boundaries • Contact landowners to inform them of wetlands located on their property • Raise awareness of the support we provide to carry out fencing and restoration activities and the wetland rules

4. Outline • Wetland identification • Wetland Programme • Raising awareness • Behaviour change monitoring

5. Wetland Identification Scheduled wetlands (Schedule A3 and F3 of the pNRP) • Identified through a mix of field surveys and a desktop study using best available information • Indicative wetland boundaries developed Non-scheduled wetlands • Being added to GW’s scientific wetlands database (GIS layer)

6. Outstanding natural wetlands (Schedule A3) • All 14 outstanding natural wetlands have been visited by wetland ecologists and have accurate boundary definition • 7 are on DOC land • 4 are in GW parks and forests • 3 are on private land

7. Significant natural wetlands (Schedule F3) Of the 197 identified significant natural wetlands: • 160 have had their boundaries assessed by a Land Management or Biodiversity Advisor • 149 of these have boundaries agreed between GWRC and landowners • 11 need further conversation with the landowners

8. Significant natural wetlands cont. • 37 wetlands are still to have their boundaries assessed • Of these, 25 are actively managed either by Greater Wellington through the Key Native Ecosystem Programme or by DOC • We are working to determine if these sites have livestock and how we can help landowners comply with the rules

9. Non-scheduled wetlands • We are working with landowners to identify wetlands on their properties that have not been scheduled • When requested, staff go out to properties to identify or delineate wetlands • We are developing guidance material for wetland identification

10. Wetland Programme Objective: To advise, assist and incentivise landowners with natural wetlands on their properties to restore and manage them

11. What does the programme deliver? • Advice and guidance to private landowners with natural wetlands on their property including; • Financial incentives for restoration activities • Development of Restoration Management Plans (RMPs) • Training to encourage and upskill landowners to undertaken restoration work • Restoration resources

12. Financial support

13. Restoration Management Plans • Identify the location and values of a site • Outline the threats to these values • Describe the restoration activities proposed at a site • Identify those responsible delivering each task • Identify the sources of funding • Determine a timeframe for delivery

14. Restoration Management Plans *Provided they are for the purpose of restoration.

15. Progress so far • 20 wetlands with approved restoration management plans, 2 on hold, 15 in review/writing stage • $82,000 has been spent/allocated to sites under the Wetland Programme for the 2016/17 and 2017/18 financial years • Budget has also been allocated to wetland sites for the next 3 financial years

16. Farm Environment Plans Farms in high priority catchments How does the programme fit in? Wetland Programme Scheduled and non-scheduled natural wetlands on private land Riparian Programme Category 1 and Category 2 surface water bodies on private land

17. Raising Awareness • Letters sent to notify landowners of scheduled wetlands on their property and funding programmes available • Media campaign held to raise awareness • Staff communicate rules to landowners • Presentations to TAs, DOC etc. • Wetland Health Monitoring Programme

18. Examples

19. Behaviour Change Monitoring

20. Any questions?