Ken Thomas wrote:
> In the scenario that was presented there were 1000 landowners each with 200
> ha of land. I do agree that 3% of the landowners could cut 100 ha of their
> land each year and that entire 200 000 ha could be sustainable on a 60 year
> rotation.
The problem I see with that is that it would require a very high
degree of cooperation between owners to achieve what would be in
effect "regional normality".
> Often, whenever the issue of certification on private forests is mentioned
> there immediately is a backlash of private landowners who see it as
> something else being shoved down their throat. "It's my land and I can do
> whatever I please with it" is a comment that is often heard. Certification,
> for the time being anyways, is shaping up to be a voluntary committment to
> good forest stewardship.
In New Zealand sustainable management is now mandatory (by law)
for all owners of indigenous forest (with the major exception of the
New Zealand government). Neither does the law apply to exotic
plantation forests which are largely in the ownership of multi-
national corporations. Nor does it restrict the felling of
indigenous forest to make way for exotic plantations or grazing
land, or the felling of indigenous forest for firewood.
The new law seems well intended but is criticised for the above
anomalies, widely resented by indigenous forest owners as being
discriminatory and is meeting with considerable resistance.
Indigenous forest owners say it slashes the value of their forests
"by the stroke of a pen".
Further more, because it is not effectively policed, and because of
various transitional provisions, there is a perception that the law
has actually accelerated the destruction of indigenous forest.
My personal view is that sustainable management is imperative but
should be based on education rather than coercion.
Where legislation is necessary it should
i) be fair and non-discriminatory
ii) offer compensation to owners who suffer material loss as a
consequence
iii) be soundly enforced
**********************************************************************
Geoff Fischer Phone 64 7 346 8975
Forest Hand 2 Fax 64 7 348 9133
Email fischerg@fec.waiariki.ac.nz
Post Forest Education Centre
Private Bag RO3028
Rotorua
NEW ZEALAND
This message does not necessarily represent the views of
Waiariki Polytechnic Forest Education Centre.
**********************************************************************
Mail converted by
MHonArc 1.1.0