Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Closed minds over beech forests - Eckhoff

Closed minds over beech forests - Eckhoff

Tuesday 21st Dec 1999
Gerry Eckhoff
Media Release -- Environment

The Forest and Bird Society and the Government are displaying frightening signs of closed minds, says ACT's conservation and agriculture spokesman Gerry Eckhoff.

"There are two points of view regarding the viability of ecosystems in the South Island beech forests," Mr Eckhoff said. "One says ecosystems are sustainable in forests managed under the terms of West Coast Accord. The other, more purist view, says ecosystems can only survive if the forests are left untouched.

"Those scientists who support forests being managed under the Accord are now being told by Government and the Forest and Bird Society they've lost the argument, and they should shut up and go away.

"But science doesn't work like this," Mr Eckhoff said. "Eminent scientists such as Professor John Craig (Auckland University) and Dr Henrik Moller (Otago University) are basing their views on scientific evidence and analysis. It is an insult to science to say "shut up and go away".

"The purist view assumes that simply locking up the forest estate is all that's needed to look after ecosystems. But the fact is that those ecosystems are being ravaged by possums, ferrets and other imported pests. So the forests have to be managed. The Accord has given us a world-acclaimed system of sustainable management according to scientific principles.

"The debate is not over. It is a matter of concern that the Government and the purists within the conservation lobby want to simply lock up the forests and close their ears or minds to science," Mr Eckhoff said.

Ends

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact
the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.