> Coincidentally I happen to be a New Zealander > NZ's population is just over 4 million (in a country > 20% larger than the > U.K), we have more like 60 millions sheep currently and not > many of > their pastures were rain forests (only the very North of NZ > is > sub-tropical, mostly we've a temperate climate).
I stand corrected Euan, my estimates were skewed (although there are more sheep in the spring). Would the Kauri forests have been considered rain forest? I believe they were largely clearcut during the boom in ship building? I met David Lange when I was on a bicycle sojourn in the late 80s. I was under the impression that there were laws against using chemical fertilizers and injecting domestic ruminants with steriods, antibiotics and hormones. Is that still the case? I was woken up in my bivy during the wee hours on a full moon night at ninty mile beach by some rasta Maoris who said to bring my "torch" mate, it was time to get some fish. You could literally take the sole and flounder anywhere the sand was moving. Really fresh and really delicious! I'm thinking about doing another bike trip. Jon _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l