Forest decision ‘will destroy communities’

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 24

Forest decision ‘will destroy communities’

The Government's decision to put South Okarito State forest and Waikukupa State forest into National Park will destroy communities and the viability of farming in South Westland, according to the secretary of Wha-taroa-Waiho Federated Farmers, Mr R. G. Orchard. He agreed with the president of the Institute of Foresters, Mr J. Rockell, who said in “The Press” last week that the decision would also lead to social disruption and over-exploitation of other forest, and that the decision was made on political grounds. South Westland forests were being overcut but the two mills at Hari Hari and Whataroa would soon be able

to supply at least 10,000 cu m a year of rimu as well as a greater volume of exotic timber, he said. "To mill a sustained yield of 10,000 cu m a year without exotic plantings would mean social disruption. It would employ only half the staff on one of our two mills. Along with jobs we lose essential services,” Mr Orchard said. He also agreed with Mr Rockell that the region should be managed with conservation in mind. “We would like to see better marketing, higher prices, and less destructive logging techniques, but our community cannot afford to reduce the cut until alternative employment is provided with exotic plantings,” he said.