Forest Service has difficulty implementing policy

Press, 5 November 1984, Page 2

Forest Service has difficulty implementing policy

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The Forest Service is having difficulty implementing the indigenous forest management policy supported by both National and Labour Governments. In its briefing papers to its new Minister, Mr Wetere, the Forest Service said that the policy was in conflict with likely donations affecting the management of certain 'regional State indigenous forests. The policy promoted the concept of balanced multiple-use of New Zealand’s valuable native State forests.

Pressures on the Government had been mounting to alter proposals in draft management plans by restricting the range of multiple-use functions, the papers said. These pressures had come largely from conservation and preservation interest groups, asking to have any existing or potential wood production excluded. A comprehensive review of the policy — which was the umbrella policy applying to all State forest land — was the only satisfactory way of resolving changing attitudes, the papers said. It was essential that a

national policy was compatible with regional policies. The national policy also needed modifications and additions to accommodate changes in management practices which had occurred since the policy was drafted in 1975. The West Coast forest policy approved in 1978 was also in need of review, the papers said. Several of the policy prescriptions had now been fulfilled and were no longer an issue, while others were outdated. It was now possible to move in the: direction of sustainable native forest yields in most areas of Westland. This would be the basic aim of the revised policy, and in line with Labour Party i policy releases.

Successful completion of the South Westland management evaluation programme had been constrained by a shortage of funds, the papers said. Only one-third of the State forest areas south of the Cook River (to the Paringa River) had been studied so far, and a report on the area was intended to be available by September, 1986.

The work had been initiated mainly through special employment' funds, the papers‘said.

the recent government; requirement that such funds’: were available only for jobcreation for longer-term and unskilled employment had meant that no further finance was available from this source for the South Westland programme.

Completing the work was vital if a clear indication of timber volumes available to sustain the sawmilling industry in the southern region as a whole was to be defined by 1986. •