10 September, 1999 MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE GOOD NEWS FOR CONSERVATION AND THE COAST Labour's West Coast forests policy announced today has won praise from the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society "It's an exciting initiative which recognises the national and international importance of the West Coast's beech and rimu forests and the many unique plants and animals which they support," Forest and Bird deputy president, Bill Gilbertson said today. "The policy will unlock the Timberlands forests to provide long term and sustainable jobs in tourism, outdoor recreation, predator control and conservation management." "Instead of sawlogs being shipped off the Coast and overseas for processing, the forests and their biological treasure chests remain for all to enjoy and benefit from." "A 1998 Department of Conservation report concluded that 92% of the forests managed by Timberlands satisfied the criteria for protection by the Nature Heritage Fund," Mr Gilbertson said. "Some of the natural jewels which should be protected under Labour's policy include: * 13,000 ha of magnificent red and silver beech forests of the east bank of the Maruia now being "trial logged" by Timberlands; * Orikaka's rimu/beech forest (6,450 ha) near Westport where Timberlands began heavy logging in July; * The glacial terrace rimu forests of North Okarito and Saltwater where Timberlands claims to be logging "sustainably" with no independent evidence that logging is not having a major adverse effect on the forest's habitat values and functioning." "The establishment of Paparoa National Park in 1987 has seen a mushrooming of accommodation, tourist and outdoor recreation businesses along the Coast road and in the Punakaiki and Greymouth areas - bed and breakfasts, motels, backpacker lodges, cafes, black water rafting, guided canoeing and walking trips, sea tours and similar activities. Eco tourism and accommodation businesses in South Westland boomed with the establishment of the South West World Heritage area and the provision of community business funding." "The protection of the forests currently mismanged by Timberlands, combined with a local strategy and regional funding to develop a tourism and recreation infrastructure and services, especially in North Westland and Buller, can bring similar gains for the Coast." A community trust which managed Timberlands' plantation forests is far more likely to encourage local processing of plantation pine. Currently at least 52% of pine from Timberlands forests is sent to Canterbury, Nelson and elsewhere for processing. For further information please contact: Bill Gilbertson o4 3857374 or Eugenie Sage ph (03) 3666 317 (wk) or 3371251 (home) 10 September, 1999 MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE New Zealand Guilty of Double Standard on Subsidies at APEC Contact: Eugenie Sage (03) 366-6317 work or (03) 337-1251 home or Kevin Smith (04) 385-7374 work or (04) 934-2473 home The Government's fierce defence of the subsidised logging of West Coast native forests is at odds with New Zealand's opposition at APEC to agricultural and forestry subsidies, according to the Forest and Bird Protection Society. Forest and Bird's Conservation Officer, Eugenie Sage, called on the Government to explain its double standard on forestry subsidies. "How can New Zealand take the lead internationally in attacking subsidies for primary production while the National Government subsidises the logging of ancient rainforests by its own logging business, Timberlands West Coast?" Ms Sage said the Government charged only a peppercorn royalty for the beech and rimu logs sold to Timberlands from publicly-owned native forests. "Timberlands is required to pay only $5 a cubic metre royalty for rimu and beech logs. This is a derisory amount and only a fraction of the market royalty for rimu of $300 a cubic metre and $100 for beech." Ms Sage said on top of this huge subsidy, the Government did not require Timberlands to pay a dividend. "Without these generous subsidies Timberlands would not be embarking on its environmentally destructive logging plans for the West Coast beech forests." The Government has justified the subsidies by saying they were necessary to create employment on the West Coast. "The Government ignores the fact that far more employment would be generated if the forests were managed for nature conservation, recreation and tourism." "But, in any case, the Government does not accept other countries subsidising forestry industries for employment reasons." Ms Sage said the future of forestry on the West Coast was not threatened by an end to native forest logging as the region had over 35,000 hectares of plantation forest. "These plantation forests will generate far greater revenues and employment than the native forest logging can. Nor do they need to be subsidised." Ms Sage said the Government's promotion at APEC of New Zealand as a clean green country had also been blown out of the water by the ferocity of its attacks on Labour's proposals to protect West Coast rainforests. "Today, the Treasurer, the Minister of State Owned Enterprises, the Minister of Food and Fibre, the Associate Minister of Forests, along with the leader and deputy leader of National's potential coalition partner, ACT, have all issued media statements attacking Labour for its support for native forest conservation" "Yet, New Zealand has less justification than any other country at APEC to carry on logging ancient rainforests. We have vast areas of plantation forests and a buoyant tourism industry ready to profit from the creation of new reserves and national parks."