THE TONGARIRO DECLARATION

Forest and Bird, Volume 19, Issue 1, 1 February 1988, Page 13

THE TONGARIRO DECLARATION

A CHARTER FOR NATIONAL PARKS AND PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS THE NEXT 100 YEARS On November 21-22 last year Forest and Bird fittingly held its council meeting at Tongariro National Park. There, the Society launched the Tongariro Declaration, a charter focusing on the next 100 years of national parks. The text of this historic document is reproduced below.

he national council of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand met at Whakapapa to mark the Centennial of our National Park system, which began there with the gift of the peaks of the Tongariro volcanoes to the nation. While this is a time for celebration it is also a time of considerable concern for the future of our parks system. Radical changes in public land ownership, its administration and funding, and in our traditional social philosophy has meant that the present and fu- . ture of the system is not as secure as it should be after 100 years. Therefore the Council of the Society recommends to the Government the following principles to ensure the adequate protection of these precious lands. 1. That a National Parks and Reserves system is a cultural benchmark of a nation. 2. The natural environment of New Zealand, its wildlife and plants have innate values which places them beyond the exigencies of current economics. 3. This public estate is held in trust for future generations through the system of National Parks and Reserves. 4. Such a system requires absolute protection, excluding the possibilities of pressure for exploitation by mining, development and other private interests. 5. This system requires national funding of a kind which places it beyond the pressures of economic changes and sectional interests, which seek an economic value and return. 6. The opportunity presently exists to

identify the last remaining sectors of unprotected habitats to ensure that this generation will not allow the loss to the world, and all time, of places, creatures and experiences which distinguish New Zealand. The Society identifies the following specific areas for immediate action to protect our endangered natural estate. Identity 1. The explicit controls of the National Parks Act are the cornerstone of our internationally renowned parks system. These controls must be retained. 2. The Department of Conservation must create a separate National Parks Division at Central Office. 3. Each National and Conservation Park must be managed as a single entity. Funding Funds for National Parks must come from a specific vote so parks do not have to rely on tourism grants or income from concessions. Wilderness Areas Wilderness and specially protected natural areas must be maintained or added to with scrupulous protection from concessionaire use and tourism projects. Public Involvement Citizen involvement in all aspects of national parks is vital. This involvement through the National Parks and Reserves Authority and Boards has re-

vitalised the profile and direction of our National Parks and protected areas. New national conservation quangos must not diminish those avenues for public involvement that already exist. Problems 1. The Department of Conservation should give the indigenous character of our National Parks priority. They should aim to eradicate introduced animals and plants where these threaten to invade pristine areas. 2. Marine ecosystems have not yet been given sufficient high quality protection. Marine areas require urgent assessment for protection with National Park status. 3. There are too many types of protected areas at present. Rationalisation of this unsatisfactory situation, with public input, is urgent. Scientific Study The importance of resource knowledge of conservation values of our national parks and reserves requires more emphasis. On-going monitoring must be implemented and maintained on wild animals, weeds, native flora and fauna, as well as tourism and recreational impacts. Mining Our National Parks face a major threat from mining companies. Mining threatens to debase the national and international identity of our national parks as totally protected areas. Professor A F Mark President