I think Al Morrison, Head of Department of Conservation, is better at spin than the Prime Minister when he recently said that the axing of 140 jobs will mean more conservation not less - yeah right. As a result of the Rena wildlife recovery 18 months ago I was privileged to have met so many committed DOC personnel that came to our shores from around the country who sadly will soon be lost.
There is a solution to the DOC's financial woes - every year hundreds of hardwood giants fall over through storm and weakness. During my involvement as a volunteer at Otanewainuku over the past 10 years, I have seen up to 20 giant Rimu's come down.
Is it not better to heavy lift helicopter out 50% of that wood mass per tree for the return to then fund needed conservation, than to let it rot releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? The CO2 that would be released anyway through decomposition would be a lot greater than that expended to salvage 50% of the timber. The 50% of wood mass left behind would be more than adequate for soil and biomass sustainability.
As for the return before outgoings, I am advised the retail value of a mature Rimu is $100,000 or $50,000 wholesale.
There could potentially be a $50 million return annually throughout the DOC Estate. As far as I'm aware, no cost benefit analysis has been done and this needs to occur so that past funding to protect our endangered species is preserved and potentially expanded. Two years ago I harvested by permit a giant storm blown Tawa tree in our protected Queen Elizabeth II National Trust property, so this way is a solution needing public debate between the pragmatic conservationists like myself and the purists.

Tim Short, Upper Ohauiti.