The Department of Conservation’s (DoC) decision to allow the habitat of threatened species such as long-tailed bat to be used for an irrigation reservoir sets a dangerous precedent that threatens our native wildlife, the Green Party said today.

商务部的总干事已经同意撤销占地22公顷Ruahine森林公园的保护状况，让Ruataniwha灌溉大坝和水库以换取170公顷私人土地称为史沫特莱块进行。

“DoC’s decision to sacrifice the homes of threatened native wildlife such as long-tailed bats, North Island fernbird, and native fish to subsidise irrigation does not represent the desire of New Zealanders to protect our distinctive plants and wildlife,” said Green Party acting conservation spokesperson Eugenie Sage.

“A healthy economy depends on a healthy environment. If a development relies on destroying the habitat of threatened native species, it should not go ahead.

“The Green Party will protect the habitat of threatened species, giving them a safe place to live in. New Zealanders love our distinctive wildlife such as our bats and native fish, and want to see them protected, not put under further pressure from habitat loss.

“New Zealand only has two indigenous land mammals and long-tailed bats are one of them.

“DoC’s decision downplays the conservation values of the public land it is giving away and overstates the values of the Smedley Block, which it is getting in return.

“The Smedley Block is not even part of an area that departmental ecological survey reports have recommended for protection. It has been logged, is grazed and DoC reports can only say that the exchange land is “promising habitat” for skinks and geckos but does not confirm their presence.

“The losers in this deal are our native wildlife, especially bats, fernbird and native fish, including several threatened species, and New Zealanders who love our outdoors.

“商务部的网站名单为包括砍伐树木称雄，天敌和引进品种，以长尾蝙蝠的威胁。它现在可以放弃蝙蝠栖息地灌溉功能添加文档本身的近视，”贤者女士说。