Rimu Decision Means Another 3,500 Trees Get The Chop
New figures released to the Greens by the Government predict that another 3,523 native trees will be logged by
Timberlands after the Government's decision to continue logging until March 2002.
"These figures show that the logging is far from over," said Jeanette Fitzsimons, Green Party Co-Leader.
The new figures were given by the Minister responsible for Timberlands, Hon Pete Hodgson, in answer to written questions
from Jeanette Fitzsimons. The figures predict that between the date of the Cabinet decision on 15 May this year and the
logging termination date of 31 March 2002, a total of 2,908 rimu and 615 miro trees will be logged, made up of:
* 400 rimu trees from Orikaka Forest in the Buller Gorge;
* 1006 rimu and 312 miro trees from Saltwater Forest in Westland;
* 1502 rimu and 303 miro trees from North Okarito Forest, also in Westland.
The felled trees will yield a total of 16,736 cubic metres of rimu timber and 1,131 cubic metres of miro.
"Timberlands took 6,840 cubic metres of rimu - about 1200 trees - from the Orikaka Forest in just the first four months
of this year. The Labour / Alliance government have missed their chance to save this forest, considered nationally
significant as a habitat for kaka and great spotted kiwi.
"Every ancient tree that falls from here on in is definitely a Labour / Alliance tree."
Ends
Jeanette Fitzsimons MP, 04 470 6661, 025 586 068 Jonathan Hill, Press Secretary, 04 470 6719