Re: Base solutions on facts, ignore agendas — November 1 column and comment trail.
The theme of Clive’s column is not about erosion, its prevention or the introduction of enhanced logging disciplines, which are the real issues. Instead, he argues that those responsible are escaping accountability. The Parata Inquiry was manipulated by Government to “limit its ability to delve into areas where the true culprits would be exposed”. “Worse”, he says, “two of the three entities equally responsible for the disaster — local and central government — will escape prosecution, leaving the ‘black sheep’ forestry companies to carry the can for their mistakes”.
These are serious claims that need to be backed by specific evidence.
Post-Bola it was obvious that much land from Wairoa to East Cape could not stand remaining in pasture and the answer was seen, in good faith, to be plantation forestry. Commercially radiata was clearly the most compelling, but it has brought problems as well as wealth. And today we have an additional potent factor — carbon trading.
It is now inescapable that this nation must have a comprehensive reassessment of the role of trees in our economy, environment and landscape. The fact remains that forestry policy, including wilding exotic spread, is an enormous issue and will need much input from practitioners, research, assessment of the role of local and central government, what contribution plantation forestry makes to soil conservation, or conversely, accelerated erosion, and public debate. So Clive is having his say, though a rather cynical one, which is his right, but the issue is way bigger than this.
