Native Forest Conservation
I am working on a new novel set in New Zealand in the aftermath of an historic period of social turbulence over native forest conservation. I'm calling it "Green Expectations".
The native forest conservation movement in New Zealand rose to the forefront in the 1970s after the government proposed harvesting large areas of native South Island lowland beech forest with the intention that half the area be converted to exotic Pinus radiata plantation.
In 1975 a series of forest campaign groups joined together under the banner of the Native Forests Action Council (NFAC), sparking the Maruia Declaration, a public petition demanding an end to native forest logging.
Along with the Save Manapouri Campaign, the native forest campaigns ignited a new public awareness of conservation in New Zealand and, in 1986, a controversial agreement was reached between the government and environmental groups. It allowed a reduced area of 120,000 hectares of government-owned native forest on the West Coast to be set aside for logging.
More radical protesters rejected the accord. Their 1990 tree-sitting campaign eventually led to political changes and, in 1993, the Forests Act was amended to stop unsustainable logging of native forest.
The native forest conservation movement in New Zealand rose to the forefront in the 1970s after the government proposed harvesting large areas of native South Island lowland beech forest with the intention that half the area be converted to exotic Pinus radiata plantation.
In 1975 a series of forest campaign groups joined together under the banner of the Native Forests Action Council (NFAC), sparking the Maruia Declaration, a public petition demanding an end to native forest logging.
Along with the Save Manapouri Campaign, the native forest campaigns ignited a new public awareness of conservation in New Zealand and, in 1986, a controversial agreement was reached between the government and environmental groups. It allowed a reduced area of 120,000 hectares of government-owned native forest on the West Coast to be set aside for logging.
More radical protesters rejected the accord. Their 1990 tree-sitting campaign eventually led to political changes and, in 1993, the Forests Act was amended to stop unsustainable logging of native forest.
No comments have been added yet.
