Let nature take its course in forests
As a plant ecologist who has studied West Coast forests, I’m aware that they, like our other indigenous forests, have always been subjected to natural disturbances on various scales. In fact they have been shown to depend on small-scale disturbance or large-scale catastrophes for their long-term sustainability.
The forests that have been formally protected should be allowed to undergo their natural replacement. Salvage logging by either helicopter or ground-based equipment, as the Conservation Minister is proposing for substantial areas, would not only create further disturbance, it would also remove the very basis on which the new forest cycle depends: namely numerous sites with higher nutrient and light levels than the generally depleted (leached) soils on the much darker forest floor.
Preserving and understanding natural processes, no matter how destructive, is a key reason why we have preserved these forests. The relevant legislation recognises this situation and only allows wood to be taken from conservation land for Maori cultural purposes. This should not be amended, as the minister is proposing. Salvage logging on private lands could be more than enough to saturate the private sector, now value-added, speciality timber market for native timbers.
Sir ALAN MARK Emeritus professor
Dunedin their pockets by way of higher charges for goods and services as the businesses levied will seek to pass these on.
On another tack, one also wonders at the true ‘‘value’’ of these frequent business propositions that are so great even our taxes must go to support them.
I always understood the point of free enterprise was to create wealth on its own two feet without burying its snout as deeply as possible in the trough of public funds.
In my view taxes are paid for government and public services/ goods the free market cannot provide at a reasonable cost, if at all.
Maybe the WCC councillors should be reminded of this viewpoint at the next election. PETER SULLIVAN
Johnsonville