This is not illegal

On the West Coast of the South Island in some areas there are no controls as to what native forest can be removed from private land.

Currently some farmers are removing forest in anticipation of controls that will come into force to improve our emissions.

How pure is this?

It is ironic indeed that cow farmers one of the largest producers of greenhouse gasses in clean green New Zealand should now be getting rid of forest in order to make even more greenhouse gasses by converting native forest to cow pasture !

Sci Fi

The New Zealand Gov't has just recently passed legislation for greenhouse emissions control but it has a start date of 2019,a date more akin to Sci Fi than reality, for agriculture when free credits are taken into account. Very generous indeed for an industry that creates 50% of the problem!

While all this dithering is going on New Zealand native forest and wetland continues to be lost at an alarming rate

 

 

 

 

"The 100% Pure New Zealand brand does establish a level of expectation among potential visitors that New Zealand's natural environment will be clean and well cared for. Government, and our tourism agencies, recognize the importance of the natural environment in fulfilling New Zealand's marketing promise. This creates an incentive for all of New Zealand to take action to ensure we live up to the 100% Pure New Zealand promise."

Damien O'Connor, New Zealands Minister of Tourism
In reply to us 4 Dec 2007

Swapping Native Forest for Cowpats - Grey valley ancient Beech and Kahikatea Forest cleared for Dairy farming 2007-2008

forest trees felled for cows

Before and After - Grey Valley ancient Beech and Kahikatea Forest cleared for Dairy farming 2007-2008

before and after