Conservation of wildlife

Press, 27 April 1981, Page 20

Conservation of wildlife

Sir,—Our wildlife conservation record of endangered species requiring protection is one of the longest in the world. In the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Recources, 33 of our native birds are listed, the highest number of any one country. I am horrified when I hear that the Pureora Forest Park is to be logged again. The area (lOOha) is small, but I feel this is the thin end of the wedge, and that will not be all. Anyway, lOOha can provide only a small and very temporary number of jobs; so what is the point? The whole area is important to wildlife. The rare native frog and bat, kaka, parakeets and blue duck are just some of the species that will be affected if loggers enter the area. Not just the north area, but the whole area should be preserved. The Government could put more money into horticulture and beekeeping. Horticulture is a labourintensive industry. This way we would be providing permanent employment opportunities and would keep our heritage — Yours, etc., LESLEY SHAND, Culverden. April 15, 1981. Sir,—l was disgusted upon reading last week’s letters column to realise that the Forest Service is planning to log Pureora State Forest. Why have there not been articles in the newspapers or on television informing the public of this situation? There was so much publicity around the information that the Government was paying out $7 million as compensation to the sawmills so that this area could be saved. As it is lowland podocarp forest housing the rare kokako, it is well worth preservation. Is this Government Department inefficiency with one not knowing what the others are doing — or something more sinister?—Yours, etc., M. R. SIBLEY. April 16. 1981.