DoC's grazing policy

Forest and Bird, Volume 23, Issue 2, 1 May 1992, Page 35

DoC's grazing policy

ELEASED FOR comment late last year, this draft policy covers land administered under the Conservation Act 1987 and the Reserves Act 1977. It does not include national parks. The policy statement claims that conservation lands are a significant resource to the farming community, despite the fact that there are only 114,000 hectares of conservation land used for grazing compared with 17.7 million hectares of agricultural land. The policy proposes that grazing be by licence with a 5-year term and no right of renewal, unless a conservation management strategy or plan is in place which allows for longer licence terms. It also acknowledges that it is either illegal or inappropriate to graze nature or scientific reserves (Reserves Act) and ecological, wilderness or sanctuary areas (Conservation Act). Commercial grazing of goats and deer, or the grazing of land where stock can freely enter adjoining protected areas, will not be permitted. However, the draft policy does

not go far enough in addressing the major impacts of domestic stock on protected natural areas. It repeats the time-honoured argument that lowgrazed vegetation reduces fire risk and assists public access. Except for stewardship areas where grazing could be permitted in special circumstances, provided there are no significant environmental impacts, grazing should generally only be allowed where there is a direct benefit for conservation. A good example may be the light grazing of native tussock grasslands to prevent the invasion of exotic woody shrubs. In other areas grazing should be phased out. This can often be accomplished without confrontation by letting licences lapse when the current lessee withdraws, or by purchasing a lessee’s interest. It must be remembered that grazing is a privilege on the DoC estate which can be withdrawn where there are unacceptable impacts. It is worth noting that traditional river flat grazing in southern South Westland was recognised by the Government

in the 1989 decision to include the area in the South-West World Heritage area. A process of reviewing the leases and deleting the most sensitive ecological sites is currently underway. Public access to conservation lands is also threatened under the policy as it proposes that hunters must gain permission from graziers to enter public land covered by a grazing licence. These are often river flats and provide the most practical access to the backcountry. Licence-holders’ rights to prevent hunting access have already effectively closed whole valleys to recreational hunting in the South Island. Farmers wishing to graze public land must accept the restraints imposed by free public access. A copy of Forest and Bird’s submission on the grazing policy is available from PO Box 631, Wellington. Submissions closed with the Department of Conservation on 31 March, but members with outstanding concerns should write to DoC’s Resource Use Manager at PO Box 10-420, Wellington.