Remarkable recognition

Forest and Bird, Volume 22, Issue 2, 1 May 1991, Unnumbered Page

Remarkable recognition

Remarkable by name (pioneer surveyor Alexander Garvie applied it) but not remarkable enough to be given proper recognition in our parks and reserves system — that, until now, has been the fate of the Remarkables Range. Last year the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society put up a proposal to the Otago National Parks and Reserves Board for the creation of a Remarkables Conservation Park embracing three areas — the stewardship land on the range proper (5,011 ha), plus a block of recently surrendered pastoral leasehold land to the south (3,950 ha) and, on the northern side, the Rastas Burn Recreation Reserve (700 ha). Total area: 9,661 ha. The land retired from pastoral lease has limited productive use but contains significant conservation values, water and soil conservation among them. The case for a conservation park was worked up by consultant ecologist Sue

Michelsen Heath, of Dunedin. It struck a chord with the Board, which backed the concept in principle. The Board's successor, the Otago Conservation Board, has now to pursue the move on the advice of DoC's Otago Regional Conservancy. DoC already administers the stewardship land and expects to have transferred to it soon the surrendered pastoral leasehold land, formerly part of Loch Linnhe Station, following processing of the surrender documents by the Office of Crown Lands. The Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve, prompted by skifield development, is also administered by Doc. Inclusion of the reserve within a new conservation park is not as straightforward as it may seem on account of its being a Reserves Act matter, whereas conservation parks are sanctioned under different legislation, the Conservation Act. The reserve would have to revert to Crown land be-

fore being embraced as a conservation park. The old forest parks now come under the designation conservation park. The term is expected to survive any rationalization of categories under the Reserves, Conservation and Wildlife Acts. In the Remarkables case, Forest and Bird has suggested that inclusion of the recreation reserve be investigated after the two bigger areas have been designated conservation park. The stewardship land on the Remarkables is actually de facto scenic reserve. Approval was given for scenic reserve Status to apply to the area in 1982 but it was never gazetted. Conservation parks are dedicated to protecting natural and historic resources. Their second goal is to "facilitate public recreation and enjoyment". And that would suit the Remarkables just fine. &