Forest policy strikes hitch

Press, 9 April 1981, Page 20

Forest policy strikes hitch

PA Wellington More time is needed to decide a management policy for central North Island forests, according to a draft King Country regional management plan. The draft, issued for public comment, covers forests west of Taupo in the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges, and comes three years after the Government put a threeyear moratorium on logging in sensitive wildlife areas. It said that the review of native forest management was at present stalled by: © Lack of conclusions from the Kokako research project, which might be available by the end of the year; • Lack of knowledge about tawa, beech, and podocarp resources. The draft also recommended establishment of a management team to look after the use of central

North Island timber, plus wildlife habitats and recreation areas. ‘Present indications are that additional time may be required to understand properly the dynamics of the Kokako populations, and its relationship with its environment,” the draft said. ‘The moratorium on the principal habitat areas might need to be extended. ‘lf this is the case, an additional source of podocarp timber other than the small areas now zoned indigenous use will be required if the industry is to be sustained at the present or lower rate. ‘Tihoi forest areas now under moratorium offer the best prospect of timber supply without affecting the principal kokako populations.” The draft puts forward three logging options for when the moratorium ex-

pires in December. It said that a thorough reappraisalof tawa. beech, and podocarp resources — aimed at defining silvicultural characteristics — was needed to decide allowable cuts and harvesting technique. ‘The kokako is but the best known of a big number of birds whose relationship with the forests is not well understood. This lack of knowledge is a feature of all New Zealand natural systems,” the draft said. Tn the case of tawa forests, the silvicultural principles of its management are only very generally established, and a great deal of additional work is required before tawa mangement becomes feasible on any scale.”. The draft also said that decisions were needed within the immediate future on the possible conversion of 1500 ha of the Hurakai Forest to exotics.