On the whole, councillor Jane Nees (14 Jan p.12) has a good grasp of the intricacies of coastal ecosystems. I applaud her careful approach to mangrove management, taking all scientific evidence into account. Jane must however be careful that she does not degenerate into 'mangrove bashing”, a form of messenger-shooting that relegates mangroves to the biological low-life category, together with possums, ferrets, rock snot and HR managers.
The mangroves are sending us a clear message that we need to clean up our harbour, including all rivers and streams that run into it.
Studies presented at a recent coastal conference at Whitianga clearly showed that farmland is a major contributor to sediment and nutrient run-off into streams and estuaries. Urban development has an even more damaging effect, but for a far shorter time. Mangroves do not grow so tall or so prolific in catchments where there are fewer human induced alterations.
Sea lettuce is also less of a problem.
Some careful and strategic mangrove removal by estuary care groups may still be necessary as a short term strategy. But our long terms priorities must be better riparian management, enforcement of the Clean Stream Accord, and a drastic reduction in intensive farming and destructive urban development.
Dr. Michael C Morris, Tauranga.