Native forest conversion

Press, 26 October 1984, Page 16

Native forest conversion

Sir, — The failure of the Forest Service to conduct vegetation surveys or podocarp stem counts in regenerating, cut over native forest before conversion to exotics is contrary to the Indigenous Forest Policy, 1975. Any suggestion of salvage logging in selectively logged areas is an admission of the failure of selective logging. Salvage logging for Maori cultural purposes cannot be justified anywhere when mature stands of totara, silver pine, yellow silver pine, rata and matai etc. are bulldozed and burnt in the Hochstetter, Mawhera and Nemona State Forests in the name of exotic conversion. Recently a stand of 300 to 500-year-old silver pine was burned to ashes in spite of the specific request for the timber from a local manufacturer. Wanton destruction of our potentially most valuable, sustained yield resource is unacceptable. Native forest conversion must stop. — Yours, etc., S. G. HEPPELTHWAITE. October 23, 1984.