Native Forest Action

Media Release

17 October 2000

Conservationists relieved Buller native logging has ended

Conservationists are relieved Timberlands West Coast has felled its last tree in the Buller District. Timberlands say the last rimu was felled on Thursday last week in Little Totara forest (The News - Westport, 17 October 2000).

"Little Totara is part of Charleston Forest, one of several forests in the Buller systematically wrecked by Timberlands" said Peter Russell, Native Forest Action's West Coast spokesperson. "While we're relieved logging has ended in Little Totara and other Buller forests, we're saddened so many big rimu have been removed from them. The forests, home to kiwi and many other threatened species, will take hundreds of years to recover from logging damage. Native Forest Action is confident most, if not all, Buller forests will soon be added to the conservation estate. "The Department of Conservation will then have to pick up the pieces".

"Many people have worked extremely hard to end the seriously damaging logging of the Buller's native forests" said Mr Russell. "Native Forest Action will maintain its presence in the forests to confirm logging has ended. We'll continue working to ensure the so-called 'sustainable' logging in South Westland forests ends as soon as possible. Timberlands are an embarrassment for the government, which has already paid $135m to West Coast councils as compensation for ending all their native logging. There is no reason why the government should allow Timberlands' other logging activities to continue. Only 18 people are directly affected by an end to the Buller Overcut, and 12 people would be affected by an end to South Westland logging. Meanwhile, the Coast's rapidly growing plantation timber industry can't get enough skilled workers".

For further information, please contact:

Peter Russell West Coast Spokesperson Natve Forest Action Westport Ph 03/789-8734

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