Anti-1080 ecoterrorists

[Hitcher]

I am fast tiring of populist local government politicians rolling over and succumbing to emotive claptrap rather than rationality backed by sound science.

It looks as though the Westland District Council is about to join the ranks of the nut job Coromandel and Taupo District Councils in declaring their region 1080 free. By doing so, they will open the floodgates to a massive biodiversity, ecological and economic disaster.

One would think that West Coasters would recognise the huge economic, social and cultural benefits to come from preserving and enhancing their natural environment. But by looking to ban 1080 -- the only effective means of diminishing possum populations -- they will sacrifice ecotourism, dairying, forestry, the jobs of thousands of Coasters, plus condemning the region's native plants and birdlife to degeneration, decline and the eventual extinction of some species.

Why? Because people who like shooting things in the wild, owners of unrestrained dogs, and the wider "anti" movement have whipped up a whole bunch of misplaced and uninformed public emotion.

Possums are a heinous pest. The are an exotic pest with no natural predators. Uncontrolled, they eat huge amounts of vegetation, breed like rabbits, compete with other species for available food sources, eat birds and their eggs, and spread bovine tuberculosis and other diseases.

These anti-1080 people believe that possums can be controlled by trapping and shooting. That isn't possible at anything like a reasonable cost or indeed even if the available money was unrestricted.

Much of the West Coast is a vast natural wilderness. Thousands of people visit every year to marvel at it. I shudder to imagine it decimated and dying, which would be its fate without 1080.

Yes, there is some by-kill from 1080 operations. By that I mean that animals other than possums, rats, and mustelids are killed including some native birds. However the Department of Conservation has robust data that shows that the recovery of native bird species after 1080 drops when possum numbers are dramatically reduced, is significant.

I really hope that the Westland District Council makes a rational and properly informed decision about 1080. Particularly if they take seriously their role as environmental custodians and promoters of economic and social benefits for the community they are elected to represent. New Zealand generally and the West Coast in particular needs courageous leaders. So too does our fragile and threatened biodiversity.

[SMOKEU]

The government should do more to encourage people to shoot possums, who can then sell the skins to government agencies which can then turn them into clothing to sell. That way everyone wins (except for the possums).

[Hitcher]

The government should do more to encourage people to shoot possums, who can then sell the skins to government agencies which can then turn them into clothing to sell. That way everyone wins (except for the possums).

The Government could do that. Not that it would make any meaningful difference to possum numbers in the absence of 1080.

The fact that useful things can be made from possum by-products is a red herring, said he typing this whilst wearing his merino-possum jersey, and should not be taken seriously as any benefits are significantly outweighed by the costs.

[kave]

The problem is councils are elected in elections that most people dont bother to participate in, leaving them open to being hijacked by minority interests. Councils are stupid because people are stupid.

[Jonno.]

Why have a debate when you can have a protest.

[SMOKEU]

I suppose if the government did encourage people to shoot possums, then some drunk inbred hillbilly would accidentally shoot themself, which could bring a bit of trouble for the council.

[Tank]

then some drunk inbred hillbilly would accidentally shoot themselfs

Speaking of drunk inbred hillbilly's - my firearms licence arrived last week - sweeeet!

[Tank]

I think that a lot of the problem is 'country' decisions are being made by 'town' people who have little to no understanding, and just think that 1080 is not what they would want outside their home.

A educated person who understands the problems would not come to the same conclusion.

[SMOKEU]

Speaking of drunk inbred hillbilly's - my firearms licence arrived last week - sweeeet!

Mine arrived years ago, now make sure you're properly armed!

[Ixion]

Much of the West Coast is a vast natural wilderness. Thousands of people visit every year to marvel at it. I shudder to imagine it decimated and dying, which would be its fate without 1080.

Somewhat alarmist,perhaps?

After all, the possum was introduced in 1837 , 1080 not until 1954. Blossom the possum had 117 years to destroy the West Coast untrammelled. The fact that the Coast and its bush survived as a natural wilderness is a fairly good reason to suppose that Blossom is unlikely to wreak the havoc you fear. Were she able to, the bush would have been gone before we were born.

[ajturbo]

my dog is ALWAYS unrestrained.......

AND he has caught 2 possums.... while out training!!!.....(once there was this cat.........wooops, but that's another story)

[doc]

I am fast tiring of populist local government politicians rolling over and succumbing to emotive claptrap rather than rationality backed by sound science.

It looks as though the Westland District Council is about to join the ranks of the nut job Coromandel and Taupo District Councils in declaring their region 1080 free. By doing so, they will open the floodgates to a massive biodiversity, ecological and economic disaster.

I think its a case of those who live in the regions you mention having a say. Isn't this what MMP is all about ?

The last Sth Island KB do was at a abandoned Westcoast sawmill. One bloke I spoke to made sense , he had spent 20 years trapping and had done extensive work with DOC and felt the scientists were starting to feel that 1080 wasn't killing as many possum as they thought. He mentioned that the 1080 thing was loosing its support in central government because of it. A few trappers not many could sort the TB problem out quite easily.

[Ronin]

Somewhat alarmist,perhaps?

After all, the possum was introduced in 1837 , 1080 not until 1954. Blossom the possum had 117 years to destroy the West Coast untrammelled. The fact that the Coast and its bush survived as a natural wilderness is a fairly good reason to suppose that Blossom is unlikely to wreak the havoc you fear. Were she able to, the bush would have been gone before we were born.

Not alarmist at all. There is a vast difference between surviving and flourishing.

[slowpoke]

Somewhat alarmist,perhaps?

After all, the possum was introduced in 1837 , 1080 not until 1954. Blossom the possum had 117 years to destroy the West Coast untrammelled. The fact that the Coast and its bush survived as a natural wilderness is a fairly good reason to suppose that Blossom is unlikely to wreak the havoc you fear. Were she able to, the bush would have been gone before we were born.

Not alarmist at all. There is a vast difference between surviving and flourishing.

C'mon man, while it may have been damaged it hardly met the definition of "decimated" or "dying" as was previously posted.

Emotive/alarmist speech does neither side any favours as it's too easy to refute and stifles discussion. It's all too easy to read one small snippet and arrive at a conclusion before all the facts are known. I'm happy to admitI know feck all about the issue but I'm interetsed in hearing more, hence I'll sit back and entertain arguments that seem sound and reasoned.....and ignore the hyperbole ridden exaggerations.

[kave]

C'mon man, while it may have been damaged it hardly met the definition of "decimated" or "dying" as was previously posted.

Emotive/alarmist speech does neither side any favours as it's too easy to refute and stifles discussion. It's all too easy to read one small snippet and arrive at a conclusion before all the facts are known. I'm happy to admitI know feck all about the issue but I'm interetsed in hearing more, hence I'll sit back and entertain arguments that seem sound and reasoned.....and ignore the hyperbole ridden exaggerations.

The decrease in birdlife in areas that are possum infested is one of the more shockingly obvious differences. Try going into an area of bush where possums have been eradicated, the birdsong is deafening. Then when you head back into the bush areas packed full of possums and it is the silence which is overwhelming. People often dont realise how badly affected by possums the bush is, because they haven't been anywhere possum free to compare it to.