Forest and land use

Press, 4 May 1984, Page 12

Forest and land use

Sir, — W. D. Blackadder (April 28) criticises the Government for promoting national parks and wilderness areas “while we have a colossal deficit overseas and 100,000 unemployed.” He assumes the best way to make money out of forests is to take timber from them. Yet much forestry is economically unattractive. Forest Service operations on the West Coast involve maintaining the timber industry by felling trees and replanting in both indigenous and exotic species. These operations are subsidised by ?12M a year, and the new plantations are estimated in a recent Officials Committee economic report to have a zero rate of return. The use of remote and marginal land for forestry is, in short, a waste of money. By contrast, the tourist industry can use selected native forests, such as those around Springs Junction, to earn overseas funds. One new job is created in New Zealand for every 17 overseas visitors. — Yours, etc., GUY W. SALMON, Nelson. April 30, 1984.