Chathams reserve plan

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33451, 5 February 1974, Page 2

Chathams reserve plan

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON’, February 4. 1 One of the most important purchases ofi land for reserve purposes by the Government in recent times' had been negotiated in the Chatham Islands, the Acting .Minister of Lands (Mr Faulkner) said today. The property is the 2360-; hectare Glory block on Pitt; Island, formerly owned by P. Feron and Son, Ltd. Mr Faulkner said in a statement that the Government intended to fence two blocks, with an area of about 1215 hectares, and set them aside as reserves. “The Chatham Islands have long been known lot ( their exceptionally inter-; esting flora and fauna, including many species and 'sub-species found nowhere else,” Mr Faulkner said. I “But despite this, only a very small proportion of the islands is so far reserved to preserve its botanical, ornithological, and entomological ■values. “Already five unique

species of birds have become | extinct in European times, land another eight species I lare rare or endangered.” No endemic plant was in danger of extinction, the Minister said, but there was i very little vegation which I was not severely depleted in .the variety of plants it contained. and this was reflected in the scarcity of bush birds. One of the proposed Glory iblock reserves contained the only surviving large area of i forest in the Chathams, and 'if this were fenced to exclude cattle and other livestock the forest cover would I probably regenerate and give the endangered bush birds a better chance of survival. The other proposed reserve. in the southern portion of Pitt Island, was important for three main reasons, Mr Faulkner said. The Chathams were rich i in endemic insect species, particularly in lepidoptera and weevils. This unique fauna was still inadequately

!.studied'. The early collections; ,of insects by Pascoe and; qThomas Hall were from Pitt; Island. i It was understood that the ; > reserve proposals were fully > supported by the Pitt Islani ders, Mr Faulkner said. He . i was glad that it had not ■ been necessary to take the, 5 whole of the Glory block out of farm production. About half would continue!; ' to be farmed. ■ The Minister said he was; grateful to the Ecological 1 Society, the Royal Forest -land Bird Protection Society, •Government departments, ' and the various individuals, e including the previous owner a and the lessee of the land, who had either promoted the • reserve or contributed to the • outcome in some way.