Call for West Coast Council to Focus on the Facts

Call for West Coast Council to Focus on the Facts

The Pest Control Education Trust today called for the Westland District Council to show real leadership on the 1080 issue and make decisions based on the facts - scientific and economic – rather than be swayed by emotive but misinformed arguments. The Trust says it appreciates there are people on the West Coast who are very genuine in their concerns, but believes that accurate information would allay their concerns and help them appreciate the dire consequences banning 1080 would have for the region’s environment and its economy.

The Pest Control Education Trust (PCET) was established by Federated Farmers and Forest & Bird to help educate people about the importance of controlling introduced animal pests that pose a threat to agriculture and conservation in New Zealand.

PCET Trustee and Victoria University Professor of Ecology and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research) Charles Daugherty said that the Trust understood issues like pest control would always require making difficult decisions, especially for community leaders.

“Unfortunately, effective solutions involve tough choices, particularly when we are dealing with a major, human-induced threat to our biodiversity and our economy. We have to choose between feeding native and often rare species to introduced pests – or killing the pests so that the native species can survive,” Professor Daugherty said.

Forest & Bird Conservation Advocate Nicola Vallance said “the organisations that use 1080 are very careful to target pests and ensure minimal impact on native species. Up to 50% of kea nests are wiped where they are unprotected from predators. However since seven kea died in an operation in 2008 the type of bait has been changed and DOC have reported no kea deaths. Now DOC are trialling baits with bird repellent added that should further ensure their safety”.

PCET Trustee and Federated Farmers General Manager, Policy and Advocacy Mark Ross suggested that protesters should look at the facts about 1080 operations and avoid condemning the region to a bleak economic future.

“30 years ago a standard operation used around 30kg of un-dyed carrot bait per hectare. Today a standard operation would use between 1.5kg and 3kg of dyed cereal bait and research is being done to reduce the sowing rate down to just 0.25kg per hectare.

“Ground-based operations are used in about two thirds of the areas where possum control is necessary. However aerial targeting is essential for reaching inaccessible areas, and protecting TB-free areas by creating a buffer zone from infected areas. Aerial application using helicopters is a carefully planned process, targeting and avoiding specific areas and boundaries using GPS technology.

“The reality is that we’re talking about the region with the highest rate of TB infection of cattle and deer herds in New Zealand. Depriving the West Coast of a critical tool in protecting its $700 million agricultural sector would be recklessly irresponsible and could have potentially catastrophic consequences for the local economy.

“The Pest Control Education Trust has sent all the West Coast District Councillors a link to www.1080facts.co.nz – a fully referenced, science-based, educational website. The scientific and economic facts are clear and we sincerely hope the Council will use them as a basis for its decisions for the region”, Mr Ross said.

ENDS

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