The Press release below is from Ian James - Scientist Okarito

PRESS RELEASE

Subject: Facts About Rimu Sustainable Management

Could you please broadcast this to the widest group possible. I want the stakeholders and decision makers to have the following seven basic facts during this debate.

Seven Facts about Sustainable Rimu Logging.

1. Okarito and Saltwater Forests are Reserves for sustainable management purposes gazetted in 1984.

2. Over 80% of Okarito and Saltwater Forests have been already logged either by helicopter or ground methods. They retain conservation value.

3. Native bird abundance has been recorded in an area of Okarito Forest since 1985. In the 18 months since the study area was subject to sustainable logging and predator control, counts of all native birds have increased by 20% over previously recorded years. Counts of korimako and tui have increased by 28%, toutouwai by 50% and kereru by 115% (based on a sample of over 2500 individual 5-minute counts).

4. There are approximately one million rimu trees in the two forests. No more than 1,298 are removed each year.

5. All trees removed are direction-felled to minimise damage and lifted from the forest by helicopter.

6. Rimu seedlings are planted where natural regeneration is wanting.

7. Sustainable management has been operational for seven years and independent audit reports are available on the Timberlands website.

Ian James

Okarito

Ian James is a scientist and co-owner of a nature tourist business. He wrote the management plans for rimu sustainable management and has a continuing involvement in their implementation.

His philosophy of rimu sustainable management is based on two guiding principles: "take the worst first" and "what is left in the forest is more important that what is removed."

Private Bag 777 HOKITIKA. okarito@minidata.co.nz

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