OLD GROWTH LOGGING ENDED IN NEW ZEALAND

By Garrick Martin
Native Forest Action, New Zealand
May 30, 2001

Yesterady we received the much anticipated announcement we had all been waiting for, here in Aotearoa- New Zealand. The Government announced that all of the West Coast indigenous forest would be transfered to the conservation estate. That is, all 130,000ha of native forest held by the State Owned logging conmpany Timberlands West Coast will be transfered to the Department of Conservation, including extensions to several national parks, creation of two new conservation parks, many other extensions to the network of reserves. This is both a great announcement (after many years of campaigning) for NZ forests, but also should be taken as inspiration for all public lands campaigners obverseas, for example the US, Chile and Australia. We urge you to take this example from the South Pacifc to heart and continue struggling for a complete end to logging of remnant Old Growth forests, the world over.

More details from Native Forest Action
All four of NZ government's media releases can be read at: www.newsroom.co.nz

Below is a segment of the Native Forest Action Media Release, 30 May 2001:

ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASES FOREST ACTIVISTS
 The government announced today that all 130,000ha of Timberlands' native forests will be transferred to the Department of Conservation. "Native Forest Action is delighted these very important lowland forests will finally be added to the conservation estate," said Native Forest Action spokesperson Peter Russell. "This is a great day for the forests and a wonderful victory for non-violent direct action. It's the result of decades of campaigning and strong public support for the protection of our remaining lowland forests." However, government is allowing rimu logging to continue in Okarito and other South Westland forests until April 2002. "Native Forest Action will not be holding its celebration until all the logging has been stopped."

"We'd like to thank all those people and organisations who contributed to saving these forests over the years, especially Buller Conservation Group and the Forest and Bird Protection Society," said Mr Russell. "This is an important defeat of the myth of 'sustainable management'. Our precious lowland, old-growth forests are far too important to be used for dubious logging experiments."


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