The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy (Ministry for the Environment [MfE], 2000) defines biological diversity (biodiversity) as "the variability among living organisms ... and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems" (Quality Planning, 2010).
New Zealand has a significant number of endemic species which are vulnerable to habitat modification. WSD promotes native habitat and self-regulating ecosystems, and promotes the exclusion of invasive species through integrated pest management. This includes the selection of robust plant species, allowing for natural succession processes and promoting effective buffer zones to prevent pest incursions.
Broad specifications for plant and animal pest control is presented in the Auckland Regional Council Technical Report TR2009/083 Landscape and Ecology Values within Stormwater Management (Lewis et al., 2010). Further information on control methods is available from the Council Biosecurity team, and the means to promote ecosystem diversity and connectivity is discussed in Section D.