PRESERVATION OF WAIPOUA

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25736, 23 February 1949, Page 6

PRESERVATION OF WAIPOUA

RECOMMENDATION TO GOVERNMENT

SCIENCE CONGRESS RESOLUTION

“That the congress impress on the TTew Zealand Government the great importance of the Waipoua kauri forest as a sample of a unique plant association of which there is no similar example in existence and that the Government therefore be urged to preserve absolutely intact and to maintain thus indefinitely, a sufficient area surrounded by a suitable zone.” This was the text of a resolution, proposed by the botany and zoological divisions, which was passed unanimously at the last plenary session of the seventh Pacific Science Congress yesterday. The motion did not define the size of a sufficient area. The president of the congress (Dr. R. A. Falla) said that as mover of the motion he wished it to be understood that it did not impinge on the current controversy about the size of the area.

In a note to the resolution the divisions stated that for an adequate understanding of a plant community it was necessary to have available a permanent sample of that community in its. undisturbed natural state. Continued study of the sample provided a reference from which to measure changes and deviations. Such a sample area, to be of full value, must be large enough to represent the community with all its component local variations and subcommunities and to maintain itself unaffected by outside influences. “So that it may remain in a primitive. undisturbed state, the area must be surrounded by a protected belt or buffer zone of reasonably undisturbed vegetation,” the note stated. “In the past in every undisturbed part of the world, whole communities have been radically altered with no check area left before any study has been made because of the lack of realisation of the value of such areas, thus precluding any future full understanding of the ecology of the regions concerned. Since such areas are also of great importance as habitats necessary for the continued existence of numerous rare and interesting species of both plants and animals, this need should be of interest and importance to all natural scientists concerned with these organisms and not to those in New Zealand alone.” _A motion was passed complimenting vne Government on establishing a sanctuary where the takahe was rediscovered.