Mavora Lakes

Forest and Bird, Volume 23, Issue 2, 1 May 1992, Page 37

Mavora Lakes

Sue Maturin

eA HE SOUTHLAND Conservation Board is about to take on the bull by recommending that Landcorp’s cattle be removed from the flowing red tussock grasslands of Mavora Lakes Park. The Mavora cattle were once described by the now-defunct Land Settlement Board, as a "scenic dimension in an otherwise stark mountain landscape". Now there is a new body in charge and the board will soon announce the long overdue review of the management plan and call for public submissions. At stake is the future health of the red tussock grasslands, cushion bogs, and beech forests of the park. Recent reports by botanists, Dr Bill Lee from DSIR, and Professor Alan Mark from Otago University, point to the damage caused by cattle. On the other side of the fence Federated Farmers claim that the results of five years of monitoring are aac UAROIE

inconclusive, and that more damage will be done by removing the cattle because of increased fire risks and rank grass smothering the remaining native herbs. These claims were refuted by Professor Mark who said that once cattle are gone the palatable native herbs will be given a chance to establish. There are now very few opportunities left in New Zealand to protect lakes, red tussock grasslands and wetlands. These once dominated much of Southland’s landscape. Mavora Lakes with its dramatic combination of high mountains, blue lakes, red tussocks, and olive green beech forests is of immense importance for nature conservation and outdoor recreation and deserves the highest protection. It is imperative that the cattle are removed as soon as possible.