Westland forests

Press, 30 August 1988, Page 20

Westland forests

Sir, —The D.S.I.R. report by Dr Wardle that zoned 20,000 hectares of southern South Westland’s lowland forests for logging research was not requested by the South Westland working party, as claimed by the D.S.I.R. (August 22). Moreover, the report was not tabled as a confidential document but as an official D.S.I.R. report. As the conservation representative on the working party, I did point out that the Wardle report contradicted all previous D.S.I.R. reports on South Westland forests. Much of our knowledge of the scientific values of South Westland’s lowland ecosystems comes from the research of D.S.I.R. scientists. These scientists had previously concluded that South Westland forests warranted complete protection for their international scientific importance. The contradiction between this view and those expressed in the recent controversial Wardle report has yet to be explained. — Yours, etc., KEVIN SMITH, West Coast conservation officer, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. August 24, 1988.

Sir, —A number of your recent correspondents have implied that making some provision for possible future very low impact, sustained-yield logging in some South Westland forests, and allowing the continuation of established and traditional uses, is the same as allowing the com-

plete destruction of all those forests. That is the big-lie technique — consciously or unconsciously used by the conservation movement for years. It is clearly a lie, yet is still endlessly repeated. In fact, of course, vast areas of South Westland forest are already protected and, whatever the Government decides, vast areas of the old State forest will also be reserved. Luckily, the voices of reason and common sense are also being heard, and an intelligent solution that takes account of people, and a 1000-year history of the wise use of natural resources, seems increasingly possible. — Yours, etc.,

(Dr) MALCOLM MACPHERSON. August 22, 1988.