The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Close view of mangroves puts muching in perspective
Mangrove mulching - go and look for yourself. Put on your gumboots and wade in, don't just look from the high ground.
Then you can
decide whom to believe - Dr Carolyn Lundquist, the independent Niwa scientist who called the areas "dead zones" and whose study is showing "unprecedented adverse impacts on recovery", or Ms Skelton, land resources manager for the regional council, who says their in-house monitoring has found "no significant environmental or scientific issues".
I recently waded through the stinking mud of the huge area at Omokoroa, mulched 11 months ago by the mangrove machine.
I can assure Ms Skelton that, nearly a year on, it is still a dead zone and the environmental and scientific issues are very significant.
ANN GRAEME Tauranga
Ecosystem wrecked
Shame on you, Tauranga Harbour people who should know better than destroying the mangrove forests of New Zealand's northern harbours. Mangroves sequester carbon, provide a habitat for fish and bird-breeding and improve water quality by filtering dissolved solutes.
This is mindless destruction of the natural ecosystem for no good reason.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council, you should have another think about ever being an advocate for the environment.
Mangrove ecosystems are one of the most productive in the world.
They are often part of a mosaic of ecological, social and economic processes, and may be regarded as "socio-ecosystems".
They play a crucial role in reducing impacts of severe weather events and climate change, and provide a range of ecosystem products and services which are particularly significant to local coastal communities.
They are the breeding ground for our fish and birds.
Why do you allow this destruction?
This type of negative environmental vandalism is absolutely shocking for New Zealand, which prides itself on its clean green image.
TONY FOSTER Tauranga
Serious issues raised
It is pleasing to read that Robyn Skelton says "if issues are raised that haven't been previously considered then we would certainly want to resolve these ... before proceeding."
Serious issues have now been raised.
These include the very slow material breakdown, the waste not being flushed away and dead zones in the areas of cut mangroves, possibly lasting for many years.
I trust that Ms Skelton will now recommend further removal be suspended until these issues are investigated and resolved.
Mangroves are special plants serving a special purpose in the environment.
The control of mangroves from newer growth patches that may block access to recreational areas or encroach on nesting sites may be justified, but removal of large areas by machinery is not ecologically sound.
Surely the council should be listening to an independent expert scientist from Niwa on this issue.GARY WAREOtumoetaiHuge changes evidentI have lived above the Waimapu estuary for 15 years.
The changes to the population of mangroves in this time have been huge and far-reaching.
If left to continue at this rate it will cause more damage to the environment than the harvesting will.
Do any of the people posing in the picture live with harbour views?
And if they do, which I doubt, are they happy that their nice blue water view has been disappearing at a great rate of knots and turning green with vegetation?
DANIEL SYCAMORE Tauranga
Return to sender
Concerning "Thousands targeted in appalling share plan" (Bay of Plenty Times, January 11), I'm supposed to be a "lady" but I printed off a page in large script with two words on it - I'll leave you to guess what they were.
I stuffed it in the envelope provided and posted it back.
I hear they are getting a fair amount of junk mail and rubbish returned to them.
JENNIFER TALSTRA Tauranga
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