EDS - Stewardship land reclassification leaves high-value ecological areas without top-tier protection

The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) congratulates the Minister of Conservation, Hon Tama Potaka, for finally making decisions on the reclassification of Western South Island stewardship land.

The Minister’s decisions reclassify 314 parcels of stewardship land into higher conservation status categories, retain 191 parcels as stewardship land and dispose of 63 parcels.

EDS says, while the decisions deliver conservation gains, it is disappointing that only six parcels are being referred to the New Zealand Conservation Authority for consideration as National Park.

This is a significant reduction on the 48 parcels recommended for National Park by the Department of Conservation.