Forest and Bird Succeeds with Legal Appeals

- Helen Fraser

Biodiversity has been given a boost in two regions following recent successful legal appeals by Forest and Bird.

An appeal lodged on the Carterton District Plan has resulted in the addition of goat-farming restrictions to the plan. This was successfully negotiated between the Carterton District Council and Forest and Bird without having to go to court. The changes mean a resource consent is required for any new goat farms within a two-kilometre buffer adjoining the Tararua Forest Park and the 403-hectare Rocky Hills Sanctuary southeast of Masterton. Applicants will need to install goat-proof fencing and to earmark their goats. The Council can also consider effects on the environment when assessing goat farm applications. The Department of Conservation has been spending $95,000 a year on goat control in Tararua Forest Park only to have the park re-infested when goats escape from nearby farms. The goats cause significant damage to indigenous vegetation and can contribute to erosion. As the agency responsible for issuing land-use consents, the Carterton District Council will be helping prevent goat re-infestation of the conservation estate. This decision will hopefully encourage other district councils to include similar measures in their plans.

Linda Conning (Forest and Bird Executive member) and Basil Graeme (former Tauranga-based field officer) appeared in the second case at the Environment Court in Gisborne, supported by Gisborne Forest and Bird. Linda was the Society's advocate and Basil our expert witness. Forest and Bird and the Department of Conservation appealed a decision by Gisborne District Council to allow a landowner to clear 77 hectares of regenerating forest that formed an integral part of a larger Recommended Area for Protection.

This area represents one of the largest remaining areas of indigenous vegetation in the Waiapu Ecological District. Basil Graham's evidence showed that the forest was regenerating vigorously and was important for the future biodiversity of the district, containing a variety of indigenous species including rewarewa, kamahi, and five finger. The forest is in good condition with few pests or weed species.

The court found it was not possible to mitigate the adverse effects of the clearance on ecology of the site and of district, and revoked the Council's decision. This decision establishes important legal precedent providing protection for Recommended Areas of Protection from clearance. It also demonstrates the importance DoC exercising its statutory advocacy role to help protect natural areas. The familiarity of the DoC witness, Chris Ward with the ecology of the district was of inestimable value in making the case.

Both of these cases are examples of the ways Forest and Bird uses the Resource Management Act to protect the environment and encourage better land management practices.

Click here to learn more about the Resource Management Act.

Weka Reserve on the East Coast

- Warner Ovenden, Gisborne Branch

Gisborne Forest and Bird is caring for a colony of weka released on part of the H.B Williams Turihaua estate. Eleven birds, raised by Andy Bassett from the Department of Conservation and Basil Graeme of Tauranga, have found a new home in a coastal reserve set aside by a local environmentalist, Bill Williams. Some birds are wearing tracking devices and are regularly checked. Local Forest and Bird members monitor the 16-hectare reserve on a weekly basis, filling water and supplementary feeding stations. Most of their work, however, involves pest control with many rats, a feral cat and one stoat caught to date.

Lowland Forest Planted In Wairarapa

'The number of general public who turned up exceeded all expectations,' according to Chris Peterson of Wairarapa Forest and Bird. The branch is attempting to re-establish a lowland native forest on a 5.5 hectare site, working with Masterton South Rotary. Now the district council has made the forest an official 'municipal memorial' to mark the millennium.

A specimen of what is believed to be New Zealand's third-rarest plant, Olearia hectori, was donated by the Department of Conservation and planted by the Mayor, Bob Frances.

Repairing Wairarapa Wilderness

- Chris Peterson

Two projects of Wairarapa Forest and Bird aim at restoring natural values in the area.

A 'pest eradication assistance programme' is run in partnership with the local branch of Ducks Unlimited. The scheme targets the mustelids (ferrets, weasels and stoats) which are such serious predators of native birds. Under the scheme, Fenn and Timms traps are hired to local farmers, and others, along with advice on how to get rid of pests. Funds for the traps came from successful grant applications.

A second project seeks to raise 40,000 native seedlings; a symbolic number representing a tree for every resident of Wairarapa. The trees are to planted out this year and the next.

The community at large including schools, will be encouraged to become involved in the planting of selected sites. It is hoped the endeavour will focus attention on the tremendous loss of indigenous flora and fauna through the last 150 years, and the imperative for a better environmental ethic in the next.

Five previously unemployed people are involved under an employment promotion scheme funded by the Masterton District Council and Work and Income New Zealand. There has also been support from the Lottery Millennium Fund.