So what is this selective logging?

Mr Andrew Kirkland, the Assistant Director-General of Forests, recently commented that the published literature on selective logging "would lead one to be somewhat disturbed." Selective logging is the new Forest Service technique of removing less than all the timber in a forest - extraction rates vary from 20% - 80% of the volume of timber.

Results from trials on the West Coast and in the West Taupo forests show that in dense stands, following research standard selection logging losses from wind throw and damage induced disease exceed the natural increment. That is - the Forest Service has administered the "kiss of death" to these forests which may progressively fall apart until no forest remains.

In the name of scientific research they are now risking doing the same thing in Whirinaki's dense stands - those described by Sir Charles Fleming as the noblest stands of all. Mr Ure, the Conservator of Forests, Rotorua, has said that this attempt to manage a forest of this type is the first in the world; what he forgot to mention, is that it is also the last. If they blow this one they'll have to wait a few centuries before they get another crack.

If Mr Kirkland is "somewhat disturbed" by the published literature, I am more than somewhat disturbed by that which has not been published. Mr Ure said that a selective logging trial had been carried out in Whirinaki in 1975 with clear felling equipment which had "an unacceptable level of damage" but the results will not be published — because they are "atypical". The days of the opennes of science are not so much numbered as past. When asked when results from West Coast trials would be published Mr Kirkland replied, "There is a lot of work to be done before we get entirely satisfactory answers."

Hardly a fair and open presentation of the facts to help the public formulate opinions on Forest Service operations.

And talking of formulating opinions, the Forest Service have published a management plan for Whirinaki forest and invite public comment. Copies available from Forest Service Head Office for $2. More information on the forest and how to write a submission to Mr John Ure, Conservator of Forests, PO Box 1340, Rotorua is available from the Native Forests Action Council (Wellington), PO Box 11 -101.

Submissions have to be in by August 17th - whatever opinion you have developed, make sure Mr Ure knows what it is. Our forests are in your hands - and remember the Forest Service's understanding of "balance" is, having lost 99% of our dense lowland podocarp forest in the North Island they want half of what is left in Whirinaki! Will the last great podocarp forests become the late great?

Alistair Graham.