When our duly elected representatives don’t want to know of the real problems we face socially and environmentally the issues that are set aside soon magnify and multiply until they become intractable.
A recent article in an Allied Press rural newspaper highlighted the spread of wilding seed to neighbouring properties with limited redress for the impacted property. The uncontrollable spread of the wildings is bad enough, but when the problem is amplified with the deliberate plantings for carbon credits, the problem fast becomes intractable.
That is because of the associated problem of one pest in particular that seeks shelter among the pines once the trees are established: the feral pig.
Deer, possums, wallabies, rabbits are all destructive, but it is the feral pig that our political masters have inadvertently allowed to flourish with the promotion of carbon trading. The financial inducement of carbon credits for plantation trees has ensured vast areas of once managed (grazed) tussock and grass farmland have become a safe haven for the carriers of Tb.
It is hard to understand how massive forestry blocks were ever allowed to establish without strict seed spread and feral animal control regulations. Farmland recently turned into forestry has become a refuge for feral animals.
The pig is recognised as the worst invasive large mammal on the planet .The breeding capacity of a sow is huge and they produce two litters a year of two-12 piglets. Couple that with the natural intelligence of the pig, which can hear an approaching helicopter gun ship from a real distance. A sound that the pig only needs to hear once and the contest swings in their favour.
Uncontrolled populations of feral pigs can double every four months. The gene editing of large invasive mammals cannot continue to be ignored, especially by those who value the environment. Those who demand better environmental protection should step up.
The answer is not just more hunting pressure on the feral pig or hand-wringing from officialdom. Science that is now 30 years old holds the answer.
New Zealand is somewhat paranoid about the use of genetic modification in the environment, but GM’s use on large pests can no longer be ignored. CRISPR technology used on feral pigs holds a brilliant opportunity to eliminate this animal (in time) with absolutely no negative impact on the domestic pig along with massive wins for the environment.
Genetically modifying tree seedlings to produce blind or sterile seed eliminates viable seed spread so the problem is solved naturally. The use of 1080 or other poisons would no longer be needed. Poison use is also controversial, but does offer a small measure of control.
The use of gene-editing technology can apply to all other unwanted animals as mentioned earlier such as rabbits, stoats and possums. The use of this CRISPR gene-editing process modifies DNA sequences so as to produce only male offspring. No females — no breeding — so without females to produce, the species naturally dies out without impact on any other desired species.
The use of this technology with vegetation is still debated as the spread of pollen on the wind is uncontrollable with possible risk of cross-species contamination but imagine being able to plant pine trees on exposed sites with no risk of seed spread.
While that reality does not solve the problem of pig habitat, under CRISPR editing they are on the way out by rapidly diminishing the number of feral breeding sows.
The current problem of feral animals and seed spread of wilding trees is entirely man-made. Indeed, the planting of trees on hill country where once sheep and cattle grazed and were bred for finishing on the fertile flats — is being rapidly lost .
There was once a similar situation in the 17th century called the great tulip bulb bubble, where a single bulb sold for the equivalent of a quarter acre of land. Investors flocked to buy tulip bulbs until the bubble inevitably burst. The "South Seas investment" bubble was another investment disaster which saw people lose their shirts and all based on a completely false narrative.
Carbon trading today is investment where some sell or buy a free and invisible product that can’t be eaten, bottled, preserved, or frozen but is believed by some to save our planet if only we produce less of it.
The application of CRISPR technology can no longer be ignored. It’s time is now.
• Gerrard Eckhoff is a retired Central Otago farmer and former Otago regional councillor and Act New Zealand MP.
