CANNABIS PLOTS RUIN ECOLOGY OF BUSH SAYS DOC

WHANGAREI - The Department of Conservation is increasingly concerned at the
risk to native plants and animals from illegal cannabis cultivation in the
bush.

The Northland conservancy's biodiversity manager, Adrian Walker, said
cannabis plantations were having serious effects on conservation values.
"The damage to the conservation estate is not a new issue, but one that is
slowly increasing over time."

The risks included weeds, fire, vegetation destruction and the trapping of
native birds.

Mr Walker said potting mix taken into the native bush contained weed seeds,
and in some cases quite large native trees had been felled to clear the
ground for plots.

Growers often lit campfires and also left rubbish behind.

It was suspected that recent fires lit at the Ahipara gumfields were a
retaliatory move by growers after police hauled out large quantities of
cannabis in the area.

"We have had similar incidents before."

Mr Walker said kiwi had been caught in fish netting strung up to protect
cannabis plots from possum grazing.

A Conservation compliance and law enforcement officer, Ross Atkinson, said
many fires on the conservation estate were attributed to cannabis growing
activities.

There was also evidence that traps put in to protect plots had snared kiwi.

The department was concerned at the risk to staff and contractors who
worked in remote bush areas, Mr Atkinson said.

In one case, contractors had found a loaded pistol in a car packed with
cannabis.

"The risk of harm is up there."