A great thing has happened in New Zealand.


More details from Native Forest Action on www.nfa.org.nz

Or all four of NZ government's media releases can be read straight off:
www.newsroom.co.nz

Below is a segment of the Native Forest Action Media Release, 30 May
2001:

Announcement pleases forest activists

The government announced today that all 130,000ha of Timberlands'
native forests will be transferred to the Department of Conservation.
"Native Forest Action is delighted these very important lowland forests
will finally be added to the conservation estate," said Native Forest
Action spokesperson Peter Russell. "This is a great day for the forests
and a wonderful victory for non-violent direct action. It's the result
of decades of campaigning and strong public support for the protection
of our remaining lowland forests." However, government is allowing rimu
logging to continue in Okarito and other South Westland forests until
April 2002. "Native Forest Action will not be holding its celebration
until all the logging has been stopped."

"We'd like to thank all those people and organisations who contributed
to saving these forests over the years, especially Buller Conservation
Group and the Forest and Bird Protection Society," said Mr Russell.
"This is an important defeat of the myth of 'sustainable management'.
Our precious lowland, old-growth forests are far too important to be
used for dubious logging experiments."

For further information, contact Peter Russell or Steve Abel at
04/383-5168 or 021/565-175 or at the government function at the Beehive
at 5pm today. Native Forest Action P O Box 836 Nelson 03/545-6040