Commissioner’s Support for 1080 and GE Labelled Crazy

Environment Commissioner’s Support for 1080 and GE Labelled Crazy

The New Zealand government under siege for its frenzied use of 1080 poison in its “Battle for the Birds” seems headed towards using controversial genetic engineering to attack predators. However the proposal has been strongly debunked by two conservationists who say the problem is not predators but government’s “maniacal” use of the ecosystem poison 1080.

The proposal to introduce genetic engineering came from the NZ government’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment physicist Dr Jan Wright. In a statement Wright again reiterated her belief in 1080 poison and added another element to government’s predator equation by suggesting inbreeding by species such as the ground parrot the kakapo needed to be addressed by genetic engineering. Wright who retires soon, acknowledged GE was a controversial suggestion but mooted the potential uses for genetic techniques to control predators and protect birdlife.

Her continued support for 1080 and now the addition of GE brought quick response.

Tony Orman author of books such as “New Zealand’s Beautiful Wilderness” and “Fishing the Wild Places” , a wildlife photographer, fly fisher and deerstalker, described Dr Wright’s support for 1080 as “dogmatcally blind” while her GE idea was “wacky science” that was “economically ignorant and self-defeating.”

“To be fair Dr Wright qualifications are not a scientist of ecological matters but one of physics and public policy,” he said. “I’m not sure why she got the PCE job in the first place. However I’m sure she might be a very good at physics.”

Dr Wright’s belief that 1080 had “unmatched ability to quickly kill predators over large inaccessible areas” was single focused and ignored that 1080, initially developed as an insecticide would also kill invertebrates, birds and animals over the same large areas.

“1080 is an ecosystem poison, not a just a pest poison.”

The PCE’s idea of GE was economically destructive as New Zealand based its export of primary produce on a “100% pure” and “clean and green marketing brand”. Consumers in export markets were increasingly and rapidly becoming environmentally conscious and aware.

Conservationist Bill Benfield author of two books dealing with NZ’s 1080 use and its destructive effects said it was sad to hear the government’s Commissioner for the Environment continuing to reiterate her support for poisons and now adding the bizzare case for GE to government policy.

“1080 is NZ’s dirty little secret. It’s clean and green boast is a lie. NZ is the world’s worst poisoner dropping 99% of the world’s supply of 1080 on its land.”

“Why are New Zealand’s native birds declining? The answer is the crazy carpet bombing of large wilderness areas. But in a weird sleight of mouth the Department of Conservation says birds are declining because of predators.”

Bill Benfield explained that kiore rats were introduced to New Zealand by Maori migrants about 1350 AD. Ship rats probably came about 250 years ago with English voyager Captain Cook and possums and stoats were introduced by European settlers 150 years ago. If by Dr Wright’s thinking, predators are an invasive, menacing tsunami, all of those predators would have eliminated birds within 30 years of introduction.”

The reality was predator-prey relationships were quickly established by Nature. Consequently birds remained relatively abundant thoughout centuries and most of the 20th century. The Department of Conservation was formed in 1987, giving birth to its poison policy he said.

Tony Orman said government’s and Dr Wright’s excuse of “beech mast years” was inaccurate. Beech mast years had been happening for millions of years with natural cyclic changes in food chains.

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