Tongariro Forest - towards a conservation park

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 446, 28 July 1992, Page 12

Tongariro Forest - towards a conservation park

This is the first of a series of articles written about Tongariro Forest by Conservation Officer lan Goodison of Whakapapa. Tongariro Forest consists of approximately 25,000 hectares of cutover native bush, with several remnants of untouched virgin bush. It forms a rough triangle between Owhango, National Park and Taurewa and spans between the Whakapapa and Whanganui rivers. Prior to 1987, most of the Tongariro State Forest No 42 was administered by NZ Forest Service, with the adjacent farmed areas of crown

land at Raurimu and Taurewa being administered by the Lands and Survey Department. Both these organisations were dissolved in 1987 and a number of new government organisations and enterprises were created, including the Department of Conservation. Approximately 10 years ago the Forest Service commenced plans to clear-fell native bush and plant exotic trees on large areas of Tongariro State Forest. Mounting opposition from conservationminded people both locally and nationally resulted in a stay of execution and the concept of

creating a Forest Park emerged. Local people formed an advisory committee to promote the concept and the Forest Service produced a draft management plan for the proposed Forest Park. In 1987 the Forest Service was dissolved and the Department of Conservation took over the administration of the native forest areas. These areas became known as Tongariro Forest. Timberlands took over the areas of pine plantations and Landcorp took over the two farmed areas Raurimu and Taurewa. The Department of

Conservation administers Tongariro Forest as a 'stewardship area' under the Conservation Act 1987 and is working towards the creation of a Conservation Park. The latest step towards this goal was the recent survey of the Landcorp and Timberlands boundaries carried out by Department of Survey and Land Information (DOSLI). This was necessary so that the proposed park area could be legally defined. At present DOSLI are putting the finishing touches to the compiled plan of the boundaries. When the survey data is complete we will be

able to proceed with gazettal of the new Tongariro Forest Conservation Park, an event long awaited by many people in the community. Many of our DoC staff members have also eagerly awaited this outcome which is now near at hand, in fact should be completed by the end of 1992. The status of Conservation Park will make very little difference to the existing level of protection of the area. At present it is managed so that its natural and historic resources are protected., As a Conservation Park it will additionally be

managed to facilitate public recreation and enjoyment, provided that the natural and historic resources are not compromised. It is important to plan for the future protection, use and development of facilities in Tongariro Forest Conservation Park. The first stage of this process is the Conservation Management. Strategy, an overall document which is currently being put together to provide general guidelines for how all the land within Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy is managed. Public input is part of the process of putting together the CMS. The first round of public meetings was held in

January and further consultation will take place later this year. The second stage will be the compiling of a Management Plan specifically for Tongariro Forest Conservation Park. This will set out the nuts and bolts of how we manage the area to protect the natural and historic resources and provide for public recreation and enjoyment. Public consultation and input will again be sought for this process and some likely issues will be vehicle aCcess, endangered species protection, walking tracks and concessionaire activity. The next article will focus on protection of natural resources.