Forest management

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 14

Forest management

Sir,—The Forest . Service claims that no logging is planned for the Pureora Forest Park until Wildlife Service reports are completed (“The Press,” April 9), however, does not exclude the possibility that timber contracts, for these forests will be signed before the completion date. The King Country Draft Management Plan clearly shows that the Forest Service is considering logging up to 3500 cu m of timber a year. This would involve lOOha of forests annually and would seriously affect

the many values of the region, one of which is the endangered kokako. It was for this bird that protests by tree-sitters took place in 1978. Consequently, logging was stopped in the areas concerned and $7 million of taxpayers’ money was paid out in compensation to the sawmilling companies for broken contracts. It seems incredible that only a few months later, the Forest Service is attempting to justify the recommencement of logging by claims that dead or dying trees in the forest must be removed. When will it end?—Yours, etc., G. A. TAYLOR. April 14, 1981.