NZ Eco-tourism Industry Damaged by 1080 Use

Following on from today's other article about the "Poisoning Paradise" documentary I thought it would be useful to see how the eco-tourism industry has been affected by the use of 1080 in NZ.

This article is a report from a recent Eco-tourism New Zealand conference near Greymouth.
Source: Stuff

New Zealand's eco-tourism industry is trying to establish its green credentials internationally but the effort is being put at risk by the aerial distribution of 1080 poison, an industry pioneer has warned.

The Eco-tourism New Zealand conference near Greymouth has been told that internationally recognised national credentials such as Qualmark Green, announced in May, are helping attract international tourists.

However, Kea Heritage Tours managing director Matt Lysaght says that is being damaged by the controversial use of 1080, which threatens New Zealand's clean-and-green reputation in key markets.

"I think it's time to call for a moratorium on the aerial spread of 1080," he said.

"At the end of the day, if word (of aerial 1080 distribution) becomes common talk amongst our clients in North America and Europe ... I think my concession would be worth next to nothing if I don't get any visitors."

Lysaght, who sits on Te Tai Poutini Polytechnic's eco-tourism programme advisory board, also called on the Department of Conservation (DOC) to prosecute tourism operators who worked in the conservation estate without a concession.

West Coast MP and Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor said eco-tourism was at the forefront of the $20 billion tourism industry, New Zealand's biggest export earner. "You could say eco-tourism is New Zealand tourism," he said.

"If we're going to protect 100 per cent Pure New Zealand, then eco-tourism is the only apparent option for each and every tourism operator.

"If each and every tourism operator doesn't embrace these values, then we won't deliver 100 per cent Pure New Zealand."

Poisoning Paradise - Ecocide in New Zealand

Makers of a new documentary have provided incontrovertible evidence that the continued widespread use of highly toxic Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is having a devastating effect on New Zealand's fauna.

The film's shocking revelations about the effects of 1080 are in stark contrast to the Clean, Green, 100% Pure image that NZ tries to present to the world. The reality couldn't be further from the truth.

New Zealand is the world's largest user of 1080.

The continued, widespread use of this poison should be a factor that Eco-tourists and environmentally minded visitors take into consideration before deciding to visit the country.


From Stuff NZ

"New Zealand's long-term use of 1080 is poisoning forest ecosystems and could drive birds and insect populations to extinction, a new documentary says.....

About 300 people packed Hokitika's Regent Theatre on Friday night for the premiere of Poisoning Paradise -- Ecocide in New Zealand.

Hamilton-based film-makers Clyde and Steve Graf said it was a tragedy the documentary had to be made.

Largely shot in bush areas after aerial 1080 drops, the documentary "goes behind the wall of the forest and shows people the other side of the story", Clyde Graf said.

It shows falcons and other birds dying, freshwater crayfish fighting over submerged 1080 pellets, deer and pigs rotting in creeks, eels eating dead animals in waterways, dead and dying stock, and weka and bush robins picking at 1080 carcasses and baits.

Scientists, university lecturers, doctors, hunters and farmers highlight their concerns about the impact of 1080 on wildlife populations, the forest ecosystem and human health.

The Graf brothers worked on the film for eight months after seeing a weka picking at a 1080 carcass in Kahurangi National Park.

"We are asking people who care about New Zealand to sit through this to get the full picture about 1080 before they make up their minds," Clyde Graf said.

Renowned aviator Sir Tim Wallis thanked the Graf brothers for their work after attending the premiere.

"What we have seen tonight is what is really happening. Thankfully, they have recorded it all, because otherwise it will remain a secret," he said.

The chairwoman of TB-Free West Coast, Helen Lash, said the movie was "thought-provoking and raised valid questions".

"I have concerns about the secondary poisoning of species, particularly after seeing freshwater crayfish fighting over 1080 baits. DOC will probably not be too happy about it, because it undermines what they do," Lash said.

However, the film was one side of the 1080 argument. Farmers struggling with bovine tuberculosis would go backwards if the aerial 1080 programme was removed, she said.

Lash said she would report to the Animal Health Board (AHB) this week on the documentary and would recommend the board view it.

"There is no point for any group to put their heads in the sand over this. We all have to sit down, look at the information and start working our way through it."

DOC communications advice manager Rory Newsam said DOC and AHB representatives attended Friday's premiere.

"They have reported that the movie raised no fresh claims or evidence. Basically, the Environmental Risk Management Authority has approved 1080 for use; it is safe to use and DOC is going to use it."

For more information on 1080 usage in New Zealand see link Wikipedia from which the following has been taken

The use of 1080 in New Zealand as a pesticide is a contentious issue, with the majority of the debate occurring between conservationists and hunters. Concerns are also raised about security of potable water supplies in areas where 1080 is applied.

Worldwide, New Zealand is the largest user of 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate). 1080 is a commonly used pesticide since it is very effective on mammals and New Zealand has no native land mammals apart from two species of bat. The first trials were carried out in New Zealand in 1954, and by 1957 its use had become widespread. 1080 baits are used through ground based and aerial application to control possums (an animal pest introduced from Australia) and other introduced mammalian pests.^[1]

New Zealand's unique fauna and flora are endangered by the rapid spread of possums, stoats and rats.^[2] Also, the possum is a vector for tuberculosis so possum numbers are controlled to prevent its spread amongst cattle and deer herds. As the possum is from the eastern states of Australia and is a mainly arboreal forager, it has never developed a resistance to sodium fluoroacetate.^{[citation needed]}

While the Department of Conservation and the Animal Health Board ^[3] favour the effectiveness of aerial 1080 application,^[4] critics of the application of 1080 claim: “agencies increasingly use large scale aerial applications to cut costs".^{[citation needed]} Opposition from hunting groups and threats by other opponents have made local agencies responsible for the use of the poison hire guards to protect their staff.^[5] Forest and Bird, the largest conservation organisation in New Zealand, advocate the use of 1080 for controlling all mammalian pests.^[6]

Councils Using Banned Endosulfan on Playing Fields

The Green Party has named and shamed 18 councils in New Zealand that spray Endosulfan on playing fields. The list includes

6 City Councils

• Dunedin
• Hamilton
• Manukau
• Napier
• Nelson
• Wellington

12 District Councils

• Hauraki
• Manawatu
• Masterton
• Matamata
• Piako
• New Plymouth
• Palmerston North
• Rodney
• Rotorua
• Stratford
• Western Bay of Plenty
• Westland
• Whangarei.

The Greens health spokeswoman, Sue Kedgley said:

“To my knowledge New Zealand is the only country in the world that sprays Endosulfan on sports fields. Endosulfan can remain in the soil for up to six years and any skin, mouth or hand contact with the soil could cause harm,”

Endosulfan is a highly toxic insecticide which affects people’s hormonal system, and is linked to breast cancer, endometriosis, male breast enlargement and delayed sexual maturity. It can cause birth defects, and is linked to epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, lowered IQ, and Parkinson’s disease.

“The councils are using Endosulfan to kill earthworms. Worm casts allegedly cause balls to bounce and reduce the effectiveness of drainage under playing fields,” Ms Kedgley says.

“But there is absolutely no need for children to be put at risk by the use of this toxic chemical, when the problem can be safely treated by simply altering the ph of the soil with acidifying fertilisers, and creating an environment the earthworms don’t like. It is completely unnecessary – Auckland City Council stopped using Endosulfan in the mid 1990s as a result of community pressure and they have managed without it for more than a decade.”

The Green Party is calling for an end to the use of Endosulfan in New Zealand as part of its toxics policy, released today."

Source: Greens.org.nz

Wikipedia description of Endosulfan

"A neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide of the cyclodiene family of pesticides. It is an endocrine disruptor, and it is highly acutely toxic. It is banned in the European Union, Cambodia, and several other countries, while its use is restricted in other countries, including the Philippines (where it will be banned after September 2008).

It is still used extensively in many countries including India, New Zealand and the United States.

It is made by Bayer CropScience, Makhteshim-Agan, and Hindustan Insecticides Limited among others, and sold under the tradenames Thionex, Thiodan, Phaser, and Benzoepin. Because of its high toxicity and high potential for bioaccumulation and environmental contamination, a global ban on the use and manufacture of endosulfan is being considered under the Stockholm Convention.........

Endosulfan is one of the more toxic pesticides on the market today, responsible for many fatal pesticide poisoning incidents around the world. Endosulfan is also a xenoestrogen—a synthetic substance that imitates or enhances the effect of estrogens—and it can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in both animals and humans. Whether endosulfan can cause cancer is debated."

Symptoms of Endosulfin poisoning include

• Hypersensitivity to stimulation
• Sensation of prickling, tingling or creeping on skin.
• Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, in-coordination, tremor, mental confusion, hyper- excitable state.
• In severe cases: convulsions, seizures, coma and respiratory depression.

Farm workers are often exposed to Endosulfan during the course of their work.

Air monitoring studies have been carried out that demonstrate that people living, working, and going to school near fields where it is used can be exposed by breathing contaminated air. Endosulfan can also be absorbed through the skin.

Other information:
Compensation for Endosulfan victims

1080 Use In Westland

Source: Scoop, 4 Sept, 2008

Westland Regional Environmental Network (WREN) has today announced its existence and intentions to the public of Westland. The Group's primary aim is: The implementation of publicly acceptable pest and TB control methods to replace 1080 use in Westland.

WREN has formed in response to the depth of community feeling against the use of 1080 in the Westland district area. The group intends to be a focal point for fair and educated discussion about 1080 and its viable alternatives and definitely does not wish to see TB infection rates on the West Coast going up, nor do they wish to see our biodiversity lost.

1080 has become an emotive issue for obvious reasons, and consequently, inaccurate and irrelevant information has been expounded from both sides of the argument” says WREN spokesperson Mark Mellsop-Melssen.

The group hopes to engage pro-1080 organisations so that the public may then have full access to all the relevant information about 1080, its use and its dangers.

In conjunction with like-minded groups, WREN, along with KEA (Kumara Environmental Action) and KAKA ( Karameans Advocating Kahurangi Action ) is planning a series of public meetings and debates over the next 12 months, along with the distribution of valid and as accurate as possible information, and nation-wide correspondence to media and relevant authorities.

Public support and donations will assist the campaign and WREN invites people concerned about 1080 to show their support by attending advertised public meetings.

WREN believes that previous considerations in regard to 1080 have failed to apply the precautionary principle to the entirely reasonable possibility of chronic poisoning from 1080 in our environment. The views of a modern and decent society appear to have been largely ignored, and significantly, 47 years on from the first 1080 drops in the Hokitika catchment, not only has the factor of inhumane deaths upon animals been perpetually ignored, but there has been a failure to demonstrably consider or implement viable alternatives. These views and others will be publicly debated and an invitation issued to 1080 advocates to present their take on the debate in a professional and cordial manner very soon.

“Our farmers are important to all of us. The Westland people are important to farmers. Can we sit down and talk it over? I think we can. There is a way forward after 47 years of 1080 poison in Westland” said Jackie Douglas WREN co- spokesperson.

1080

source: Stop 1080 Poison

"One of the prized polo-cross/rodeo & pony club horses recently killed at Rangipo, (along with 20 sheep) by 1080 poison baits broadcast in an "accidental overfly." The nearby prison water supply was also poisoned in the same operation, which was carried out by EPRO LTD, contracted by Environment Waikato (Waikato Regional Council) on behalf of AHB (Animal Health Board) and sanctioned by the NZ Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA).

The land treated could easily have been treated for possum control by safer alternative methods, ie. trapping and ferratox in bait stations, as it is NOT REMOTE, NOT INNACCESSIBLE, and NOT RUGGED TERRAIN.
It is obvious from the position of the animal, the damage to its leg, the vomited lungs and the distended veins, that this animal died a horrible and cruel death. Deer have been observed to have tried to rip open their own bellies in their agony, and have inflicted similar and worse damage to their bodies while under the effects of 1080. Dogs are driven insane by the excruciating pain inflicted upon them before succombing to a cruel death. Poisoned possums can travel several kms and may take up to 18 hours to die."

What is 1080?

source: Wikipedia

"Sodium fluoroacetate (also known as sodium monofluoroacetate, compound 1080 or 1080) is a potent metabolic poison that occurs naturally as an anti-herbivore metabolite in various plants. It works by interfering with the citric acid cycle, and is used primarily to control mammalian pests, including invasive species. The existence of this chemical was first noted in the Second World War.

Sodium fluoroacetate is used as a rodenticide. Farmers and graziers use the poison to protect pastures and crops from various herbivorous mammals. It is used in New Zealand to control the Common Brushtail Possum , while in the United States it is used to kill coyotes. Other countries using 1080 include Australia, Mexico and Israel

Itis highly toxic to mammals and insects. The oral dose of fluoroacetate sufficient to be lethal in humans is 2–10 mg/kg.

Species have different susceptibility to sodium fluoroacetate due to metabolic differences. The New Zealand Food Authority established lethal doses for a number of species.Dogs, cats and pigs appear to be the species most susceptable to poisoning."