5 November 2007 - Wellington

Handing pest control to hunters will set back conservation 100 years

Handing control of introduced pests over to hunters will set back conservation 100 years, Forest & Bird says.

Public submissions to a ministerial advisory panel considering the options for management of deer, thar, chamois and wild pigs close tomorrow (Nov 6) and if a sector of the hunting community has its way, the law will be changed to require landowners and the Department of Conservation to manage these species on their land for the benefit of hunters.

Forest & Bird Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell says these pest animals wreak serious damage to our native forests, alpine areas and other indigenous habitats and the native species that live in them.

"If some hunters get their way, they will get to manage these introduced pests in our native environment and on private land for the benefit of a small minority - the hunters. The cost to the environment and to farming, forestry and tourism would be massive."

"More than 100 years ago these animals were introduced to provide hunting opportunities, when we knew little about the damage they would inflict upon their new environment. We now know better. We must not ignore the lessons of the last century and repeat those mistakes"

Kevin Hackwell says recent examples of hunter management of introduced species proved to be disastrous. Recently the hunter-dominated Sambar Deer Management Foundation was responsible for managing these deer in the Manawatu and Horowhenua, and the ability of landowners to control these pests was severely restricted. Sambar deer numbers and their range greatly increased. Conservation land and private reserves were infested with deer and suffered serious damage; farmers lost significant areas of crops and hundreds of hectares of young pine plantations had to be replanted.

"Where hunters control management of pest species, obviously they are motivated to maintain significant populations of these pests so they can enjoy their sport. The hunters get the benefit - everyone else pays the considerable cost," Kevin Hackwell says.

"New Zealand already has one of the most liberal hunting regimes in the world. A permit for hunting on public land is free, hunters can hunt all year round, have open access to the conservation estate, its tracks and facilities, and have no restrictions on the number of animals they can take. They already have a great deal - allowing them the final authority over pest control would be a step too far."

Forest & Bird hopes that the advisory panel will recognize the importance of controlling deer, thar, chamois and pigs as introduced pests, Kevin Hackwell says.

"Changing the priority of our conservation law to manage these introduced pests as a hunting resource ahead of conserving our unique native plants and animals can only end in disaster."

ENDS

© Scoop Media