National shunning ecology: greenies

By PHILIP ENGLISH

Conservation Minister Nick Smith yesterday rejected claims by conservationists that his National Party cabinet colleagues had abandoned a key strategy to prevent the decline of more than 1000 species of New Zealand wildlife.

The environmental and conservation groups said a global obligation to protect wildlife following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit had not been actioned.

Biodiversity - the native plants, animals and ecosystems unique to New Zealand - was one of the Government's 10 new strategic priorities last December.

It followed a 1997 Government report that identified biodiversity loss as the country's biggest environmental problem and news that scientists regarded New Zealand one of the world's worst danger zones for endangered species.

In January, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley launched a draft strategy aimed at turning the tide on extinctions and holding on to the country's biological treasures.

"It is increasingly evident that we must act now," she said.

Asked yesterday if the strategy had stalled, Dr Smith responded: "I wouldn't say that."

He said the Government was committed to seeing the strategy through but had decided to integrate it with another report protecting biodiversity on private land. The work would be completed next year.

The conservation director of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Kevin Smith, said the Government's development-minded ministers, supported by Act and Federated Farmers, had derailed the strategy.

"[They] were worried National is widely seen as backing native forest logging and favouring commercial development over conservation. Their plans to counter that anti-green image ... have turned to custard."