Solid Energy is the “Emergency” Threatening Land Snails
Solid Energy’s claim that an “emergency” exists which justifies its proposal to translocate a threatened giant land snail is ridiculous, as they are the ones threatening the snail’s extinction according to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
Solid Energy’s draft application for a permit to move the snails shows that the “emergency” is its own proposal to mine the last known habitat of the threatened giant land snail Powelliphanta “Augustus” in October this year.
“There is clearly no ‘emergency’”, Forest and Bird’s Conservation Manager Kevin Hackwell said.
“At any time Solid Energy could choose not to mine this tiny five hectare site,”
Solid Energy however, seems intent on moving the snails with or without the Department of Conservation’s approval. In the documentation attached to the draft translocation plan Solid Energy states if it can not obtain a permit to move the individual snails, it will adopt other options such as ‘direct transfer’ of their habitat.
“They are saying that if they fail to get permission to transfer the snails by hand, they will instead transfer them using diggers.”
“Solid Energy apparently believes it is above the law, as such a move would be an offence under the Wildlife Act without lawful authority,” said Mr Hackwell. “Both the Government, as shareholders, and the Board of Solid Energy should be insisting that the company obeys the law.”
“Both DOC and Solid Energy’s own experts say the snails should stay where they are (1). However, Solid Energy wants to move some snails to a new area which they have previously failed to colonise, and just hope that they might survive while the company then sets about destroying the remainder of the population.”
“This strategy carries a huge risk of failure which could easily lead to the extinction of this species. No amount of profit from coal sales will compensate for such a loss”.
Forest and Bird has sent a briefing paper to all Ministers seeking urgent Government intervention. The briefing paper notes, “The possible state sanctioned extinction of an endemic New Zealand species is not an operational matter to be deferred to the Board of Solid Energy. It is an issue for all Ministers in the Government to take action on.”
“The government should insist that the proposal to mine the last of the giant land snail’s habitat in October is immediately suspended.”
ENDS
Contact:
Kevin Hackwell, Conservation Manager ph (04) 801 2215 or 021 227 8420; or
Eugenie Sage, Regional Field Officer ph 03 366 6317 (wk) or 03 942 1251(h)
Notes
1. Advice in Solid Energy’s ‘Powelliphanta Management Strategy’ dated July 2005:
“In some special cases such as those involving Powelliphanta “Augustus” (only very low densities to date) the best conservation solution would be to restore and protect existing habitat rather than attempt to translocate snails.”
For Department of Conservation advice see Walker K., The fate of Powelliphanta “Augustus” – a discussion document, April 2005
