>. The result has been, largely because of a lack > of people and money within the Department of Conservation for the control of > introduced animals, a threat to maintaining the area of indigenous > forest and a marked decline in the quality of the indigenous forests. > This deterioration in the indigenous forests because of stupid > ideology that separates forest use on the basis of single purposes should be > of far greater concern than what has or has not happened to the > plantation forests. On one level, I agree with Dr Whyte's contention that the position of the indigenous forests is of greater concern than the fate of the exotic forests. But there is a clear connection between the two. Firstly economics. The sale of Kaingaroa forest alone means a reduction in net state income of at least $60 million a year, which * could * have been made available for conservation of indigenous forest. Second the political connection. The New Zealand state is a colonial institution which has no interest in retaining the production forests in local control, and little interest in retaining the indigenous forests at all. So the failure to fund the conservation estate, and the disposal of the production forest estate to overseas interests are just two facets of a single policy. The indigenous forests cannot be saved until the colonialist parties are expelled from government. And when that happens the production forests will also be restored to local ownership. Geoff Fischer 628 Te Ngae Road, Rotorua, New Zealand Phone 64 7 345 3299 Credit for the message above belongs solely to Geoff Fischer. and not to his employer or internet service provider.
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