Environmental Challenge To “Global Co”

Forest and Bird challenges the dairy mega company, “Global Co”, to improve the environmental performance of the dairy industry in New Zealand.

“The expansion and intensification of dairying is having a real impact on the environment, especially lowland streams”, said Eric Pyle, Forest and Bird’s Conservation Manager. “Lowland streams are important native fish habitat, especially for species that make up the whitebait fishery”.

“Clean water in lakes, rivers and streams, is valued very highly by New Zealanders. The dairy industry needs to do more to protect our freshwaters”.

“Our challenge to the dairy industry is to ensure that the expansion and intensification of dairying does not degrade the environment”, said Mr Pyle. “This will require all streams in new dairying areas to be fenced and limits to dairying in certain areas, such as particular lake catchments.

“Ultimately, Forest and Bird would like to see all streams on dairy farms areas fenced so that cows do not pollute streams and destroy habitat for native fish, including whitebait species”, said Mr Pyle.

Forest and Bird considers the Dairy Industry needs to do more to protect the environment. “While the preparation of environmental management guidelines is a good start, the industry needs to bring more pressure to bear on farmers to improve the environment. Ideally, milk should not be picked up from dairy farms that are continuing to pollute lowland waterways”, said Mr Pyle.

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