> unfortunately the domestic sheep population in new zealand numbers > over 75 million (mostly for export) and their hooves are destroying pasture > that used to be rain forest.
> the human population is less than 5 million... > http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/sustainable-resource-use/organic-production/organic-farming-in-nz/org10005.htm#E11E5 Coincidentally I happen to be a New Zealander and shared a flight home from a Samoan holiday recently with a NZ MAF official who has the responsibility of drawing up policy on sustainable exploitation. NZ's population is just over 4 million (in a country 20% larger than the U.K), we have more like 60 millions sheep currently and not many of their pastures were rain forests (only the very North of NZ is sub-tropical, mostly we've a temperate climate). Our greatest problem at the moment is water wastage and pollution from fertiliser run off and dairy herd operations (dairying having boomed in recent years). NZ has no particular shortage of water but growing urban areas are creating bottle-necks of supply. Also, as climate change policy is very much in the news, arguments over levying of taxes/charges to meet our greenhouse reduction agreements. Farmers claim a special status where non-descriminating policy would hold them responsible for exactly their share of methane production. Our fisheries policy is much more rigorous and well implemented following very turbulent times in the 1980's when the whole thing was over-hauled as part of meeting Waitangi Treaty obligations (in 1840 the combined tribes of Maori signed a treaty with the British crown cedeing soveriegnty for property right gaurantees - european immigrants and governments often betrayed that treaty but in recent years have been making amends via a thorough judicial/arbitrary system that generally ends in government policy designed to fulfill Waitangi Tribunal recommendations). NZs fisheries were reorganized into a strictly quota managed operation where individuals would own and trade fishery quotas that are expanded or contracted by MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries) on the advice of their researchers into the health of our fisheries. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
