South-West support growing

Forest and Bird, Volume 17, Issue 1, 1 February 1986, Page 27

South-West support growing

Support is mounting behind the proposed South-west New Zealand World Heritage area advocated by conservation, recreation and tourism interests (see Forest and Bird November 1985). The West Coast and Otago National Parks and Reserves Boards have come out strongly in favour of the proposal. Even more significantly, in early December the proposal was backed by the powerful Tourist Industry Federation — New Zealand's national tourism advocate. Major advantages of this internationallysignificant nomination are that it would ensure the co-ordinated, integrated protection, management and promotion of an extensive area of already protected natural public land-stretching from Mount CookWestland, south to Fiordland-Waitutu. Already the bulk (86 percent) of the 2.1 million hectares in the proposed area is either protected by policy or statute. Decisions on which parts of the remaining 14 percent will be protected are expected shortly — this includes the state forests of southern South Westland and the Red Hills of West Otago. Protected parts of these areas will be added to the World Heritage area at a later date.