Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

<<Previous     Index    Next>>

3  Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods

3.3  Land and Soil

3.3.7 Accelerated Erosion

Principal Reasons for Adopting: Erosion is a natural phenomenon that can be accelerated by human activity. It is not always possible or desirable to prevent natural erosion, and therefore this Regional Policy Statement will deal substantially with accelerated erosion¹. Once erosion has occurred, the productivity of the soil rarely returns to its former level. If remedial action is not undertaken, the problem will be exacerbated, causing further losses in the productive potential of the soils.

Inappropriate land use management practices are a major contributor to erosion problems. Erosion may result in loss of soil productivity, and/or versatility, as well as downstream sedimentation and impacts on the aesthetic, scientific and cultural values associated with land. In addition, uncontrolled browsing by pests and overgrazing by stock may damage vegetation to the extent that it no longer adequately protects the soil resources.

Ensure that land users:

1. avoid where practicable, practices that cause accelerated erosion; and
   
2. remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of accelerated erosion if it occurs.

1. Through an environmental education programme developed in consultation with affected parties, advocate:
   
   1. the rehabilitation of degraded soils
      
   2. sustainable land management practices
      
   3. riparian management for soil conservation purposes
      
   4. protection, enhancement or restoration of vegetation (particularly indigenous vegetation) especially on land which has high erosion risk
      
   5. retirement of land subject to severe accelerated erosion.
   
   
2. Through regional plans:
   
   1. prepare, where necessary, regional rules for the management of land and soils
      
   2. use economic instruments to avoid, remedy or mitigate accelerated erosion
      
   3. consider the option of self-regulation.
   
   
3. Develop a regional monitoring programme to identify and monitor the effects of land use.
   
4. Advocate, through the Regional Pest Management Strategy, the control of pest populations and introductions of new species which may threaten or damage protective vegetation.
   
5. Maintain the integrity of existing soil conservation² programmes and, where there are significant regional benefits, advocate new programmes.
   
6. Liaise and work with organisations producing their own codes of practice or guidelines designed to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse environmental effects.
   
7. Through liaison with territorial authorities, iwi and other agencies, promote the integrated management of land and water resources including the use of a catchment based approach.

The Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) will focus much of its attention on promoting land uses and land use practices that avoid, remedy or mitigate accelerated erosion through environmental education and information dissemination. Regulation can control the potential for erosion to occur by controlling activities where there is an unacceptably high risk of erosion. Economic instruments may be used in circumstances where financial considerations are an obstacle to bringing about practices which avoid, remedy or mitigate accelerated erosion. Capital works and advocacy may also be used to protect or encourage the protection of land that has a high erosion risk. Monitoring is necessary so that Environment Waikato can identify what is occurring on the land and why, and then respond in an appropriate manner.

Riparian management and vegetation protection or restoration can be an effective tool for the protection of soils. Such methods provide an effective means of avoiding, remedying and mitigating the adverse effects of erosion and surface runoff. Appropriately managed riparian margins may also protect soils from streambank erosion, and the adverse effects of uncontrolled browsing and pest damage.

Regional councils and territorial authorities have shared responsibilities for the management of land resources. Other organisations have related responsibilities. For example, DoC has responsibilities with respect to fresh water fisheries. While Environment Waikato is primarily concerned with soil conservation and water quality matters, the close links between land and water management issues requires effective inter-agency liaison.

In determining whether rules are necessary regard will be had to the duration of the activity, to positive as well as adverse environmental effects and to site specific characteristics such as soil type, topography and climatic influences. Regulatory controls over land will be imposed where necessary and reliance on the consents process will be reduced in favour of other non-regulatory methods.

Self-monitoring shall be considered as part of the option of self-regulation under Implementation Method 2.

1. A net reduction of areas within the Region affected by accelerated erosion.
   
2. Reduced severity of accelerated erosion, resulting in increased water quality.
   
3. Less suspended sediment transported by water ways.

<<Previous     Index    Next>>

Footnotes

1. See Glossary for definition of accelerated erosion.
2. See Glossary for definition of soil conservation.