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Native land cover with legal protection by LCDB class

In 2006, about 62.4 per cent (8.3 million hectares) of New Zealand’s total native land cover was legally protected. This represents 35 per cent of New Zealand’s total land area.

Of our native vegetation (excluding other native land cover such as permanent snow and ice), 63.7 per cent is legally protected.

Some native vegetation types receive comparatively high levels of protection. For example, in 2006, 79.6 per cent of the remaining native forests, 81.5 per cent of the remaining sub-alpine shrublands and 80.7 per cent of the remaining alpine grass/herbfields were protected. Other vegetation types are represented to a lesser degree in legally protected areas.

Native land cover in 2002 using satellite imagery (LCDB 2) and the extent of legal protection

Native land cover class
Area in 2002 (Hectares)
Area legally protected in 2006
Hectares
Percentage of 2002 area (%)
Alpine grass/herbfield
224,400
181,100
80.7
Broadleaved native hardwoods
539,600
199,500
37.0
Depleted grassland
250,500
33,300
13.3
Fernland
51,700
8,200
15.8
Flaxland
6,500
3,600
55.8
Grey scrub
72,400
9,800
13.5
Herbaceous freshwater vegetation
88,700
41,400
46.7
Herbaceous saline vegetation
19,200
6,700
34.8
Native forest
6,457,000
5,136,600
79.6
Mangrove
26,000
2,600
9.8
Mānuka and/or kānuka
1,186,200
362,800
30.6
Matagouri
29,500
3,100
10.3
Sub-alpine shrubland
385,400
314,200
81.5
Tall tussock grassland
2,394,600
1,175,500
49.1
Total native vegetation cover
11,731,700
7,478,300
63.7
Alpine gravel and rock
698,100
506,400
72.5
Coastal sand and gravel
51,300
18,900
36.8
Estuarine open water
92,500
3,600
3.9
Lake and pond
357,500
121,500
34.0
Landslide
17,000
11,600
68.2
Permanent snow and ice
111,000
109,200
98.4
River
81,900
18,100
22.1
River and lakeshore gravel and rock
179,700
45,900
25.6
Total other native land cover
1,589,100
835,100
52.6
Total native land cover
13,320,800
8,313,446
62.4
Non-native (modified)
13,500,800

Data source: Landcare Research.
Notes: Grey scrub is a classification for areas covered with small-leaved shrubs such as small-leaved Coprosma species. Matagouri (Discaria toumatou) is a thorny shrub found in open, moist areas, which is known to invade pastures. Figures rounded to the nearest 100 hectares. Percentages are calculated from unrounded figures.

 

This information has come from the latest national state of the environment report Environment New Zealand 2007.

 

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Last updated: December 2008