A new wetland tool

There’s a new tool out to assess whether or not areas of farmed land include ‘official’ wetlands.

It’s not an implement like a spade – rather a methodology that you read and tick off ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Wetlands in pasture areas that are dominated by exotic pasture species will be assessed using this newly developed Pasture Exclusion Assessment Methodology.

It’s all part of applying the provisions of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and for the Resource Management Act. In particular, when applying the Environmental Standards for Freshwater and Stock Exclusion Regulations 2020.

Basically, if plots where specified exotic pasture species add up to be more than 50% of the total vegetation cover, then they are not natural inland wetlands.

However, if the plot fails this test, the next step is looking for water-loving vegetation and to use an auger to assess wetness and soil type. If it has a highwater table (even in summer) then it’s likely to be a wetland. Councils have their own rules that specify the minimum size of a wetland, and they will be applied.

In parallel, a national list of exotic pasture species has been created.