Landowners committed to conservation
Farmers have been front and centre in the activities of the QEII National Trust right from the start. We congratulate them on their 40th anniversary. Chris Allen
Farmers committing $1.1 to $1.3 billion in setting aside valuable land for reserves is proof they believe in conservation, says Federated Farmers.
Environment and water spokesman Chris Allen said although farmers’ environmental credentials had been under attack, the land that was placed under covenant for the QEII National Trust over 40 years, showed they cared.
Federated Farmers have welcomed a study by the University of Waikato Institute for Business Research that highlighted the impact and costs of land placed under covenant.
‘‘Farmers have been front and centre in the activities of the QEII National Trust right from the start. We congratulate them on their 40th anniversary, and for commissioning this study,’’ Allen said.
He said more than 4300 property owners had put land in the trust over 40 years.
The research found that covenanting landowners, most of who are farmers, spend about $25 million of their own money every year to protect native species, forests, wetlands and other special areas in their QEII covenants.
Allen said, in total, the landowners had made a financial commitment of between $1.1 and $1.3 billion in direct or lost opportunity costs establishing and maintaining land under covenant since the QE II Trust that Gordon Stephenson lobbied for was set up in 1977. ‘‘These special sites have even more protection than national parks. The QEII covenants cannot be revoked by subsequent landowners.’’
Allen said the study showed that loses of potential income from other alternative uses of land under covenant was estimated to be between $443-$638 million since 1977.
When Gordon and Celia Stephenson put a four hectare stand of native bush on their farm near Putaruru under QEII covenant for permanent protection, they were the first to do so.
They were not to know that over the next 40 years, more than 4300 property owners would follow suit, said Allen.
‘‘The land surrounding 69 per cent of covenanted sites is used for grazing. While not all of the covenanted land would be suitable for farming, it’s no surprise to us that thousands of farmers have voluntarily opted to permanently protect important wetland, bush and landscape sites, and to forgo revenue from it,’’ Allen said.
More people will be able to visit a reserve that is only 20 minutes from the Tararua town Woodville because of new access, says an environment group.
QEII National Trust representative for the Tararua region, Bill Wallace was at the opening of a new bridge and track at the Awapikopiko Reserve at Kumeroa.
He said the 28 hectare reserve had a new 2.5 loop track as well as the bridge for access.
Originally in tawa podocarp forest, the original owners, David and Josephine Druce, had added many more trees and shrubs. They gifted the land to the QEII National Trust in 1996.
Wallace said tracks had become overgrown and there had only been a plank to get across to the reserve. ‘‘That has changed. There are new tracks and we have a new bridge.’’ He said it was more user friendly after car park facilities were added. ‘‘It is not far off the beaten track and you are right in the bush.’’