Protection of forests urged

Press, 12 May 1984, Page 6

Protection of forests urged

Wellington reporter Increased protection for the Kaimai-Mamaku State Forest Park, and for adjacent native forests too, has been recommended by the national Parks and Reserves Authority. These remnant native forests in the hill country between the Bay pf Plenty and the Waikato nave been the centre of environmental controversy for some years. The recommendations (16 of them) have gone to the Minister of Lands and Forests, Mr Elworthy, who had asked the authority to investigate. Mr Elworthy has now sent the authority’s report and recommendations to the State Forest Park’s advisory committee for its study and response. He will not make any decisions until he has received the views of the

advisory committee, and consulted further with other interested parties. The authority did not recommend either National Park or National Reserve status for the KaimaiMamaku area. If implemented, however, its recommendations would preclude further milling, preclude any silviculture of native species, uproot any exotic trees and allow the land occupied by them to regenerate, and create more and improved habitat for native birds.