* A lowland, riverine ecosystem that contains significant and distinct wetlands, a section of rare braided river, shrublands and forest which contains specific habitats for threatened species and has a range of threatened species such as North Island fernbird, red mistletoe, indigenous fish species present. Compared with;
* An upland region that represents a greater altitudinal range, less distinct wetlands (but still on the whole significant), no braided river systems and lower order streams that are likely to contain a lower diversity of threatened fish and no fernbird or red mistletoe?
The DoC conservation land meets all of the Ministry for the Environment's National Priorities for Protection explained in the public document: Protecting our Places (2007). To put it simply:
* The DoC conservation land has Acutely Threatened land environments. These are land environments where there are less than 10 per cent of these environments left within New Zealand and are the first national priority for protection.
* The DoC conservation land contains rare and uncommon ecosystems such as braided river and an oxbow wetland which are the second and third national priority for protection.
* The DoC conservation land has specific habitats for a range of threatened species, for example, New Zealand long-tailed bat, New Zealand falcon, North Island fernbird, red mistletoe and indigenous fish species, and is the fourth national priority for protection. It is also worth noting that these species are also a top priority for protection within the National Biodiversity Strategy.
If the land exchange showed that the Smedley Block indeed had a greater area of Acutely Threatened environments, rare ecosystems such as braided river and distinctive wetlands, greater habitat area for fernbird and indigenous fish (second order streams), and the same or greater variety of threatened species than those found within the DoC exchange block, then the justification that the exchange "enhances conservation values" would be far more compelling.
Reports and submissions are publicly available on the DoC website, under: get-involved/have-your-say/all-consultations/2014. Here the reader can gauge for themselves that the DoC exchange area comprises of significant wetland and riparian vegetation and has mature beech and podocarp trees despite being logged in places and has regenerating podocarps and an intact understory.
Furthermore, the forest surrounding a part of the DoC exchange area does not "isolate" it from the Ruahine Forest Park. To the contrary, it acts as a corridor for native birds such as fernbirds and provides a buffer for parts of the Forest Park.
In contrast, the indigenous forest within the Smedley block does not have an intact understory due to grazing.
The pasture grassland will take longer than our lifetimes to become large mature podocarps. "Rapidly" depends on perspective.
"Public estate gains" from DoC/Smedley exchange must clearly show significant gains in conservation value. This exchange falls short.
* Dr Amelia McQueen is a senior lecturer, School of Applied Science at EIT and a Member of the Te Taiao Hawke's Bay Environment Forum
* Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz.
* Viewpoints on the amalgamation debate can be submitted for consideration and will be used as long as no council resources, money, time or expertise are used in their preparation. This is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2002.
