Biodiversity will be biggest loser – Groundswell

Rural lobby group Groundswell NZ says biodiversity will be the biggest loser if the Government’s new biodiversity legislation is passed.

Last week, Associate Minister for the Environment James Shaw announced a new package of measures designed to protect native wildlife and at-risk habitats, including a National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity.

“The more landowners do to look after biodiversity, the more they are penalised with rules, bureaucratic interference, and costs,” says Groundswell NZ’s environmental spokesperson Jamie McFadden.

McFadden says the new legislation turns biodiversity into a liability and is “a smack in the face” for landowners who have been proactive in protecting and enhancing biodiversity on their land.

“It is a disincentive for anyone wanting to do the right thing for the environment,” he says.

“It is so disappointing to see a Labour/Greens Government fail to recognize that having motivated, empowered landowners is fundamental to protecting biodiversity on private land.”

McFadden claims the Government is hypocritical to demand landowners protect biodiversity when current climate change policies have caused the loss of thousands of hectares of native shrublands from conversion to pine forests.

“This Government doesn’t care for the environment,” he says. “They care more about control and looking good on the world stage by achieving performative targets.”