Conservationists disappointed at park deferral

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 31

Conservationists disappointed at park deferral

PA Nelson The Government’s announcement on West Coast forestry was “another deferral of decisions on establishing reserves and the Paparoa National Park,” said Mr Guy Salmon. Mr Salmon, director of the Joint Campaign on Native Forests, said conservationists were disappointed. But disappointment was tempered by what they saw as a commitment by the Government to a rational, balanced and consultative approach to making final decisions.

He was commenting on the statement by the Minister of Forests, Mr Wetere. “The Government has been under pressure to make a public commitment to prop up indefinitely an outdated and unacceptable pattern of forest utilisation in milling and woodchipping,” Mr Salmon said.

“It appears the Government has resisted those pressures, at least for the time being.”

Conservationists were pleased that reserves and

production forest areas would be dealt with simultaneously, and that the total package would be subject to the environmental impact reporting procedures. “We are also pleased the Government is firm in its commitment to cushion the impact of the forthcoming changes by generating alternative employment opportunities,” Mr Salmon said. “We believe the best sustainable employment opportunities will be found in the West Coast’s new growth industry of tourism, focusing particularly on special places such as the proposed Paparoa National Park, the Oparara Reserve at Karamea, and in the Victoria Forest Park near Reefton.” What was needed was progress in preserving assets which tourists were coming to see, he said. “Progress on this has been painfully slow under successive Governments,” he said. “We will not bow out of this campaign until each special area has full and permanent legal protection.”