Urban Conservation

Forest and Bird, Issue 291, 1 February 1999, Page 7

Urban Conservation

Central Auckland

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Peter Russell,

I strongly agree with Kit Howden that a crucial battle facing Forest and Bird (and other like-minded groups) is to change the mindsets of more urban dwellers — and above all the local authorities who are supposed to represent us (Dipping into the Future, Forest & Bird, November 1998). As but one example, the Auckland City Council has been cutting its parks budget and staff while putting millions into dubious projects like the Viaduct Basin, which will mainly benefit a few millionaire overseas yacht owners. Forest and Bird members need to look harder at their own attitudes too. It is fine to make bus tours to, or hold camps in, remoter and less spoilt areas but I feel we must do more in practical ways in our cities and towns. I was horrified that for a recent ACC so-called community planting in the Auckland Domain I was the only volunteer to turn up, though it was advertised in the Council’s giveaway newspaper. I realize fine efforts are being made by some, including KCC. But shouldn't we all be doing more ‘hands on’ weeding and planting where needed in our urban parks, and also pressing our local representatives harder to allocate more funds for parks and reserves, and conservation? Needless to say we must equally pressure central government and try to make MPs see the truth of Keith Chapple’s warning: "Without a sustainable environment there will not be an economy.