Karamea forest

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 16

Karamea forest

Sir.—l wonder if the National Party’s symbolic “tree of growth” has anything to do with the precious rimu and totara trees destroyed by a “napalm-like substance" in the Karamea forest to make way for planting exotic trees. Is this what is meant by “fast track procedure,” proceeding contrary to stated policy before the public has time to comment? How can Mr Wylie, of the Forest Service, Nelson Conservancy, substantiate the claim that only opossums and stoats are killed and other wildlife escapes the burn-up?— Yours, etc.. J. STEPHENS. August 3, 1981. Sir.—Mr Wylie (Forest Service, Nelson) assures us “that kiwis were not endangered" when referring to the burn-off of native bush at Karamea (“The Press,” August 1). How can ■ anyone claim this? The Easter meeting of N.F.A.C. and the Forest and Bird Society was told that 260 hectares were burnt last summer. Can you imagine the lush regrowth in the two years before the fire and then state that no kiwis were present? The whole idea of burning indigenous forest to enable exotic pines to be planted is ridiculous.' Pines should be planted on the gorse and run-down pastures of the West Coast but the bush should be left alone. If the highproducing pasture of Karamea is too valuable for pines then the timber industry in that district must cease.—Yours, etc..

M. C. CULLEN. August 2, 1981.