The ecological significance

of the forest of Maruia River Retreat Estate.

Site RO152 and Site RO173 are in Rotoroa Ecological District, within Spenser Ecological Region (McEwen, 1987). The original vegetation at this part of Rotoroa Ecological District was lowland beech forest, dominated by red beech and silver beech, grading to silver beech-mountain beech forest at higher altitudes. Podocarp forest was present on poorly-drained river terraces, and species such as kowhai and kanuka present along riverbanks. A more detailed description of the ecological district is presented in Attachment 1.