13. Conservation Management Strategies and Plans

Conservation management strategies and plans are tools for achieving integrated conservation management on land and water. The purpose of a conservation management strategy, as set out in the Conservation Act 1987, is to implement general policies and establish objectives for the integrated management of natural and historic resources, including any species managed by the Department, and for recreation, tourism and other conservation purposes.

Conservation management strategies may also include objectives for the conservation of natural and historic resources and for recreation and tourism on land not managed by the Department. Objectives related to land not managed by the Department are only binding on the Department and not other landowners or managers. Conservation management strategies must have regard to all existing management plans under the Conservation Act 1987 or any other Act listed in the First Schedule to the Conservation Act 1987.

Separate conservation management plans may be necessary for some places, including marine reserves.

POLICIES

13 Conservation Management Strategies and Plans

13 (a) Conservation management strategies and plans should include identification of:

• i. natural resources, historical and cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities, at specific places on land and water;
• ii. planned outcomes, objectives and policies for specific places consistent with the purposes for which the public conservation lands and waters are held;
• iii. potential conflicts between planned outcomes at specific places and explanation of how these will be resolved;
• iv. the adverse effects (including cumulative effects) of different uses and explanation of how these effects will be minimised; and
• v. objectives for departmental advocacy relating to conservation outside public conservation lands and waters;

and should also have regard to:

• vi. relevant territorial authority statutory planning documents; and
• vii. integrated management of places to achieve national conservation outcomes, and to coordinate planning between places covered by other conservation management strategies and plans.

13 (b) Conservation management strategies may require that a conservation management plan be prepared for places of national or international importance, where detailed objectives need to be identified, in consultation with the public, for effective management.

13 (c) Integrated management on public conservation lands and waters adjoining national parks should be complementary to and not detract from national park values.

13 (d) Conservation boards, people or organisations interested in public conservation lands and waters, including fish and game councils and tangata whenua, will be consulted when developing or reviewing conservation management strategies and plans.

13 (e) Conservation boards will be consulted on matters relevant to the implementation of conservation management strategies and plans, including applications for a concession requiring an interest in land.

13 (f) The Department will provide conservation boards with a report (at least annually) on the implementation of conservation management strategies and plans, and conservation management strategies should include major milestones towards planned outcomes to facilitate implementation reporting.

13 (g) Public consultation will be sought on a proposed amendment to a conservation management strategy or plan, except where this would not materially affect the objectives or policies expressed in the strategy or plan or the public interest in the area concerned, including where the proposed amendment either:

• i. corrects a factual error; or
• ii. updates information on protected areas managed by the Department; or
• iii. changes the names or classification of places following reclassification in accordance with the relevant legislation; or
• iv. reflects changes in legislation; or
• v. provides clarification of an objective or policy; or
• vi. deletes reference to a conservation management plan that has been revoked.

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