Helicopter Heroes

Forest and Bird, Issue 306, 1 November 2002, Page 2

Helicopter Heroes

NATIONAL PRESIDENT

GERRY MCSWEENEY

he koru, the unfolding fern frond, / symbolises the beginning of new life in natural New Zealand. In spring, the deciduous tree fuchsia and kowhai burst forth, first with flowers then a mass of new leaves. Our native trees and plants are mostly evergreen but many of these are also transformed in spring. Manuka, kanuka, red tussock, and many Dracophyllum species change from redbrown to green. Coprosma, broadleaf, wineberry, and the many Pseudopanax species all erupt with new shoots and leaves. A flush of bright green new growth sweeps up the beech-forested mountainsides. In the alpine zone, a sea of green leaves and later gardens of flowers emerge from underground rhizomes and taproots. Our alpine buttercups (Ranunculus) are perhaps the most striking. Each mountain system has its own characteristic, usually showy, species. Taranaki, Tongariro and the North Island axial ranges host R. nivicola and R. insignis. Haast’s buttercup grows on screes from the Kaikoura Ranges south. The giant buttercup R. lyallii grows from Kahurangi National Park south to Stewart Island. Godley’s and Graham’s buttercups cling to our highest central Southern Alps and Buchanan’s buttercup occurs from Westland’s glacier peaks south to Fiordland. Present Forest and Bird executive member Alan Mark, in the first edition of his

landmark book New Zealand Alpine Plants, described the 1973 distribution of Ranunculus lyallii — the world’s largest buttercup — as follows: ‘Introduced game animals have caused its decline so that large plants now tend to be restricted to inaccessible bluffs.’ He described the giant alpine bristly carrot, Anistome pilifera, as: ‘Almost restricted to rocky sites especially ledges and crevices on rock faces and bluffs. Introduced animals have virtually eliminated it from accessible sites. Thirty years later you can walk most of our mountain lands through a sea of tussocks and alpine flowers. In many accessible places, the giant buttercups and bristly carrot now fill whole valley floors and hillsides. This dramatic recovery of native plants extends below the alpine zone to native shrublands, grasslands, and many native forests throughout New Zealand. It results from a huge reduction in the populations of introduced feral deer, chamois (European antelope) and, in some places, of Himalayan thar (mountain goat). This conservation success story is a living testament to the courage and hard work of all those involved in commercial game recovery operations largely using helicopters. Recreational hunting is important in developing self-reliance and a love of the outdoors among many young New Zealanders. Sadly it does not sufficiently control feral game populations to allow significant regeneration of palatable native plants. The commercial game-recovery operators are unconventional. Deer farmers and many landowners often accuse them of ‘poaching’. Recreational hunters resent the deer these commercial operators take. Many Government officials seem to resent their perceived freedom. Even trampers can dislike the helicopter noise. These helicopter operators may not have planted many native trees. They miss out on traditional conservation awards but through their actions, at no cost to the taxpayer, millions of native trees, shrubs and alpine plants are flourishing. They are the ‘helicopter heroes. They face all the challenges of running small businesses in remote locations. They put their lives on the line every time they fly

into the wilds. Many are also involved in aerial possum and goat control, search and rescue and the maintenance of backcountry huts and tracks. In the year to February 28, 2002 they supplied 28,284 feral deer, chamois and thar to seven New Zealand processing plants. Most of their produce was exported. Their industry is now in jeopardy. Since April this year most feral game processing has ceased. In the ensuing eight months since then around 20,000 extra deer will be chomping through wild New Zealand. Many will be adult females soon to give birth to fawns. With no effective population control, deer and chamois populations are now increasing exponentially with disastrous consequences for New Zealand’s native plants. The situation arose from a contaminated feral-game meat scare, and a press statement by the Minister of Agriculture threatening a ban on feral-game exports, which put a stop to most feral-game processing. Strong pressure has come on feral-game exports from deer farmers who want to monopolise venison exports. Pressure has also come from the Game and Forest Foundation and from Safari Club International keen to increase animal numbers largely for big-game hunting tourists. Already, under its Thar Control Plan, the Department of Conservation has compromised the unique native biodiversity of the central Southern Alps, north from Aoraki/Mt Cook and Westland/Tai Poutini national parks, to indulge big-game hunters. Since 1983, restrictions on helicopter hunting have caused a dramatic increase in thar numbers there. The Thar Plan expires in 2003 and should be abandoned. Commercial hunting of feral thar should then be reinstated without any artificial restrictions. Congratulations Chris Carter on your appointment as our new Conservation Minister. Welcome back Jim Sutton to your Agriculture portfolio. Please do everything possible to restart the feral-game industry = and save our unique native plants.