WILDLIFE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 1 September 1942, Page 2

WILDLIFE

SUGGESTED SCHEME FOR ITS MANAGEMENT

CRITICISM OF SKELETON BASIS INVITED Occupied as this country is by a people who all speak one language and enjoy universal education New Zealand should easily lead the world in forest and wildlife management were the whole of the people and those at the head of affairs fully aware of the importance of these resources and of their vital bearing on man’s well-being (comments an editorial in “Forest and Bird”). The very isolation of this country should be an aid towards efficient management but as a matter of fact it appears to restrict vision with the result that small opposing factions are formed, each claiming to possess a knowledge of wildlife in the absence of official data and practically no field research. Wishful thinking too often guides most people in forming opinions. Any scheme for wildlife protection which does not include the principal homes of the wildlife concerned must inevitably lead nowhere and any attempt to manage it successfully must likewise fail without a common policy for the management of all reserves.

We shall therefore proceed to suggest a platform for the efficient management of wildlife and shall be glad to receive any suggestions for the improvement or replacement of the suggested scheme. As nature is one unified whole it follows that its management should be based on the same foundation, and the setting up of a Department of Conservation is therefore suggested as the proper means to attain the desired benefits to all parties. The head of this department it is suggested would be a commissioner whose immediate subordinates would consist of sub-commissioners controlling various districts and under whom wardens would be appointed for ranging and other purposes. Attached to the department and responsible to the commissioner a permanent paid committee of scientists versed in various essential matters would be appointed to examine problems and make research. The activities of this committee should 1 be based mainly on field observation) by trained ecologists. The most important factor in conserving desirable species and increasing their numbers is the habitat which relies mostly on vegetation to supply a sufficiency of food every week all the year round and also provides cover, or in other words a home. Therefore all reservations should be under the management of the Commissioner of Conservation. Here it is that objection will be taken and obstacles occur to the complete realisation of this suggested scheme because many officers of various Government departments controlling such areas as scenic reserves for instance are keenly interested in their work and have gone to end-! less trouble and pains to get these; reserves set aside. They, moreover,! know the history and many details! connected with the working of these! reserves. The solution of this difficulty and indeed a means of immediately setting the scheme in work- j ing order appears to be the trans- j ference of officers with a knowledge ! of any subject involved from their present departments to the new Department of Conservation. Thus all existing reservations for National Parks and permanent areas set aside for the preservation of native flora or fauna would continue to be managed by those who had been most instrumental in acquiring them and who know many of the obstacles i requiring to be overcome in order j to secure their successful manage- j ment. The Forest and Bird Protec- | tion Society now invites any criti-: cism or suggestions for bettering this skeleton basis for a long overdue improvement in the management of wildlife and reservations.