Impact studies ‘unnecessary’

Press, 6 May 1983, Page 9

Impact studies ‘unnecessary’

Parliamentary reporter

Further '' environmental impact assessment will not be needed when sustainedyield management of the north Westland beech forests begins, according to the Minister of Lands and Forests, Mr Elworthy.

He was Replying to a series of questions in Parliament over the north Westland beech forests.

The principle, of sus-tained-yield managing of the beech forests had been debated at length during the 1970 s and accepted widely, including environmentalist groups, Mr Elworthy said. The management techniques zoned for management had been exposed quite recently for public comment in the draft north Westland regional

management plan. That plan, modified in accordance with the submissions received, would be the basis of any approved beech management scheme. “The environmental consequences have thus been well discussed and, accordingly, I see no need for a further environmental impact assessment,” he said. ■ In accordance with the long-standing policies of successive governments, and the West Coast indigenous forest policy, a quantity of wood calculated to be sustainable annually from available and suitable beech forests would be advertised for tender when he was convinced that there were firm indications that an economic outlet existed for forest and sawmill residues.

The gross area zoned for 6 reduction management in le beech forest was some 140,000 ha, although this was still subject to change, Mr Elworthy said. Wood would not be sold by area but on a volume basis, and produced according to a management plan prepared and controlled by the Forest Service.

The various disciplines represented by the Wildlife Service and D.S.I.R. had been an integral part of forest management planning — generally through thr :h? if the

.ne mechanisms oi Scientific Co-ordinating Committee — for some 10 Sears, and the views of lose bodies had been incorporated in the reserve provisions made in the draft regional management plan for north Westland, published in 1081.

However, both the Wildlife Service and the D.S.LR. had put forward further views in submissions on the draft plan made to the Conservator of Forests, Hokitika, Mr Elworthy said.

The Wildlife Service had indicated a preference for minimal disturbance of

existing forests on the grounds that any management for wood production would reduce the over-all value of the forests as wildlife habitat. Both the Wildlife Service and the D.S.I.R. had sought recognition of the “island bio-geography” concept of reserve design by the specific provision of corridors of reserved forest linking all areas of forest otherwise reserved, or not managed for wood production, he said.

Those submissions and others had been taken into account when the previous Minister of Forests, Mr Young, and the Minister for the Environment, • Dr Shearer, had issued a statement that recognised no requirement for immediate change to forest management policies and practices in north Westland other than a need for a re-evalua-tion of the management zoning on the west bank of the Maruia River, which was now taking place. Mr Elworthy said he intended to seek continuing input from both the Wildlife Service and D.S.LR.

The two organisations E assessed valuable skills in heir areas of expertise, in the management of the forests in the best interests of. the region, and of the country as a whole.