Not only are bush areas and wetlands a habitat for many birds, fish, etc, they also prevent damage to stream and river banks by slowing flood waters along with ponding to filter sediment from ending up in harbours, another breeding place for birds and fish.
Yes folks, our birds, fish, etc, are facing an uphill battle and I feel our regional councils are letting them down, just as are the government policies and local councils by allowing vehicles and dogs on our beaches threatening our dotterels, fairy terns, etc, as nothing in this world face a greater threat of mankind than nature, in man's quest for money or his own selfish pleasures.
What was allowed in the past in the way of development, I believe no longer applies, what with the sediment of harbours, loss of wetlands, bush, water contamination, bird, fish and other life threatened by the lowering of water tables, flooding, droughts, ice melt, sea level rising, storms and coastal erosion, rubbish, chemicals and other pollutants.
I say those in control and every one of us need to take a good hard look at ourselves, as we are all responsible one way or another with our carbon footprint and waste we create.
The environment problem we are facing today are the very same ones that the late Sir Walter Buller recognised back in the 1800s, with his concerns of decreasing birdsong, etc, through habitat destruction.
Many thanks to those who have followed in his footsteps.
Nature needs you more than ever if it stands a chance to survive, as it only requires ones greed or selfish act to undo years of hard work by many who give a lot of their time and money attempting to do what's right, and very disheartening to the young seeing all their hard work destroyed in a matter of minutes.
JOHN BASSETT
Diggers' Valley
