DOC criticised

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 39, 17 March 1987, Page 2

DOC criticised

Keith Chapple, chairman of the King Country branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, believes that in its present form, the Conservation Bill — currently being considered by the Parliamentary Planning & Development Select Committee — is unacceptable. The bill will be strongly opposed by the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, he said.

The Society and other conservation groups had high hopes that the Department of Conservation (DOC) wouid conduct their business under legislation which clearly and concisely spelled out the protection, preservation and wise management of New Zealand's natural heritage. It now appears that exForest Service and Lands & Survey staff, who have been placed in virtually all senior policy / management positions in DOC, have produced a Conservation Bill more suited to a prologging, pro-development mentalilty. In practical

terms, the Labour Government policy to divide conservation and development responsibilities into clearly defined separate departments has either been tossed out ... or hijacked. The King Country Branch will vigorously campaign to have the Conservation Bill reworded so that it meets Government Policy and election promises. Election Promises And Government Policy In Tatters The Conservation Bill and the method employed for allocation of public land to the Forestcorp and Landcorp contravene Government policies: The Revised Indigenous Forest Policy: This states that all public lands with a predominant native vegetation cover are deemed to be native forest, and thus protected ... modification of native forest requires the approval of the Minister of Forests following consultation with the public ...

Many areas of native forest have been "given" to Landcorp or Forestcorp — there will be little or no public accountability over these erstwhile public lands, or the Corporations. 1984 Labour Party Election Policy: A widely publicised election promise to legally protect all virgin native forest in the public estate of the North Island. The Conservation Bill is so loosely worded and open to misinterpretation that the remaining stands of virgin native forest in Pureora Forest Park, for example, could be clearfelled. Open Government Policy: The Labour Party election policy of consensus politics and consultation with the community before decisions were reached. All land allocations were made in principle in July 1 986. These allocations were made by departmental officials, in secret, with no public participation. Despite intense lobbying, and in some cases thousands of submissions, not a single decision of substance has been reversed. Serious mistakes have been made. Major Faults In The Conservation Bill The definition of Conser- -

vation will permit selective logging or sustained yield on DOC lands. Protection has been qualified so that an area is "protected" as far as is practicable ... and ... allows for "improvements" of forest resources. Forest Parks are given no real legal protection. The long title — the philosophical base of the Conservation Bill — does not clearly define a Conservation ethic. The Minister (of Conservation) is allowed to disregard public participation if he considers the views of the public would "not materially assist". The Minister is allowed to amend any management plan without consultation. The Minister may authorise the Director General to prepare or amend any management plan without consultation. Ecological areas could have pine trees or any other exotic species planted in them ... and buildings or other amenities could be erected within such areas. The Minister has the authority to dispose of any natural resource if he considers it is not required for conservation purposes.