All NZ forests to be monitored for foreign bugsFriday 22 Feb 2013 All New Zealand forest plantations will be brought into a nationwide forest health surveillance scheme if next month’s referendum of forest growers is successful. “A yes vote in the referendum will see a small compulsory levy applied to harvested logs. Broadening the reach of the surveillance scheme will be one of the big benefits,” says Paul Nicholls, a Forest Growers Levy Trust board member.“Forests owned by members of the Forest Owners Association have been monitored for exotic pests and diseases for more than 50 years. But new bugs don’t discriminate. We need to be monitoring forests on the basis of a scientific assessment of risk, not because they are owned by a member of an industry association.” Increased international trade and air travel mean that biosecurity threats are spreading more rapidly around the world. Among them are pests and diseases that could devastate our plantation and native forests. Mr Nicholls strongly advises forest growers to vote yes in the referendum. "That will bring the vast majority of our commercial forests into the forest health surveillance scheme and other programmes that benefit the industry as a whole. Relative to the massive financial losses that could result from a major pest becoming established in New Zealand, the levy will be very affordable insurance." The Forest Voice referendum is being held in March. For details, visit www.forestvoice.org.nz. |
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