Some landowners in parts of the Manawatu-Whanganui region may find themselves responsible for a lot more of the pest management on their properties due to a shift in strategy put forward by the regional council.
The council says it's broadening its focus for managing animal and plant pests, and will now work to protect areas identified as regionally significant.
Planning and Regulatory Manager Greg Carlyon says ecologists have been out in the region over the past five years assessing various wetland and bush areas and classifying them accordingly.
He says 300 areas have been identified as high value, but there are up to 10,000 others where the council will not undertake pest management activities.
