4 October 1999

MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Forest and Bird Welcomes Green's Conservation Policy

Contact: Kevin Smith (04) 385 7374 or (04) 934 2473

The Green Party conservation policy released today has addressed the key concerns of New Zealand conservationists according to the Forest and Bird Protection Society.

Forest and Bird's conservation director Kevin Smith said the Green's conservation policy release would be a real incentive to the other political parties to seriously address New Zealand's conservation crisis.

"The Green's key commitments are to save our national bird the kiwi from extinction, to protect all the West Coast native forests menaced by Timberlands logging, to restore marine life in our estuaries, coastal waters and open ocean, and to strengthen our border defences against alien pests, weeds and disease.

"This is the first conservation policy release this election and it is a good start."

Mr Smith said the Greens had really bloomed in the last twelve months and were now playing an important role in New Zealand politics as an uncompromised voice for nature.

Mr Smith said he was surprised the Green policy did not put a dollar figure on the increase they would seek in conservation funding.

"We have urged all parties to support a $200 million increase in conservation funding over three years."

"We also believe their misgivings about aerial 1080 operations for possums to be misplaced. For the foreseeable future aerial 1080 will be an essential, cost-effective and environmentally acceptable weapon in the battle to protect native forests and native wildlife from possums and other pests.

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Kevin Smith Conservation Director Forest and Bird Protection Society PO Box 631 Wellington New Zealand ksmith@wn.forest-bird.org.nz ph 04 3857374 fax 04 3857373 www.forest-bird.org.nz

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