Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki |
Sustainable land management programme
The Taranaki Regional Council promotes sustainable land management. The focus is on working with farmers through the use of non-regulatory methods to promote sustainable land management practices.
In relation to soil erosion, the Taranaki Regional Council implements the Sustainable Land Management Programme, providing a property planning service to land owners. Each year, the Council receives requests from land owners to prepare comprehensive farm plans, agroforestry plans, and conservation plans.
Comprehensive farm plans cover all environmental aspects of a farming operation, including land and stock management, while maximizing the productive capability of the property. The plans are based upon a detailed land resource inventory and include an analysis of soils, geology, vegetation, slope, and erosion. Land use and management recommendations promoting the stabilization and protection of the productive capability of the soils within the property are included within each plan. Other issues such as the retirement or enhancement of riparian buffer strips along waterways are also addressed.
Agroforestry plans involve the use of the Agroforestry Estate Model to generate a number of scenarios taking into account land use capability and the nature and extent of forestry in which the land occupier is interested. Conservation plans are prepared for properties with individual site-specific soil or water conservation issues.
As at 30 June 2009, the Taranaki Regional Council had prepared 313 comprehensive farm plans and agroforestry plans, covering 179,182 hectares. The most 'at risk' area in terms of soil erosion occurs predominantly on pasture land on steep slopes (i.e. Class VIe, VII and VIII land). Fifty-one percent of this 'at risk' area in the hill country is covered by comprehensive or agroforestry plans. There continues to be strong demand for the property planning service and most plan recommendations are being implemented progressively. The Council aims to have 80% of all hill country farms included within the Programme by 2016.
In addition to the property planning service, the Taranaki Regional Council provides a range of other services to plan holders including on-going advice and other assistance, including the provision of soil conservation plants for land stabilization purposes. The Council facilitates the supply of relatively low cost, high quality plants through bulk purchase contracts with nurseries.