Conservation

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 12

Conservation

Sir,—On August 24 you referred to a visit by an internationally known botanist, Dr David Bellamy, to help Massey University set up a course on managing and marketing New Zealand’s natural heritage. The message by Dr Bellamy that tourism and conservation should go hand in hand with “sensitive marketing” of flora and fauna, and conservationists should work in with tourism to make sure it does not conflict with the environment, is entirely appropriate. Lincoln College has been engaged in tourism and conservation education and training for some time. College courses include a diploma and a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management and postgraduate studies opportunities. These courses recognise that conservation in this country requires a good understanding of natural resource conservation along with well-developed knowledge and skills in tourism. With this understanding, conservationists and tourism developers will be in a better position to resolve conflicts and optimise the tourism and conservation potential of our natural environment. — Yours, etc., GRANT CUSHMAN. Head, Department of Parks,

Recreation and Tourism,

Lincoln College. September 5, 1988.

Sir,—The Conservation Department’s budget this year is less than a third the cost of one of the proposed frigates and half the cost of the Waihopai station. The department looks after a third of our land area and much of our coastline, and also has a conservation advocacy role. Its budget funds, among other

things, our national park system, the foremost attraction for tourists who provide $2300M in foreign exchange. The Treasury, so self-righteous about the Conservation Department’s overspending, overspent its own budget last year by S3M — about the same amount and, porportionally, four times as bad. The insane penny-pinching which would reduce this year’s conservation budget, in real terms, by 16 per cent — almost a sixth — will undo years of painstaking work on kiwis, kakapos and many other endangered birds. Programmes to eliminate or control deer, rats, cats, goats, pigs, thar and opossums in vital wild habitats might as well never have been begun if they are stopped before completion. This Government’s fine words, and even fine legislation, are meaningless and hypocritical without sufficient funds for effective administration and enforcement. — Yours, etc., D. J. ROUND. September 8, 1988.