Moa's Ark : Stamp of the Giants

Not all that long ago, the land was covered in trees from the coast almost to the top of the mountains. 

– David Bellamy on the forest of the past in part one

It's a terrible waste, for these ancient beech forests are being felled and chipped just to make paper, most of which is going to be chucked away, and the hills are left stripped to their soil.

– David Bellamy on deforestation in Aotearoa in part two

There are more than a hundred and seventy varieties to choose from, and more than fifty are found nowhere else on earth. All of these ferns would really make a dinosaur feel at home.

– David Bellamy on the breadth of Aotearoa fern species in part four

It was here that the destruction of the ‘Great Dinosaur Forest’ was brought to the attention of all New Zealanders, when a group of people chained themselves to the top of the forest giants and said, “Stop this slaughter!”.  And a petition from the people was delivered to the government. A petition which saved the forests of Pureora and Whirinaki from extinction.

– David Bellamy on the protests to save forests from destruction in part four

Unfortunately for the kauri, its perfect straight-veined hard wood makes it the world's best timber tree. In a time before chainsaws and bulldozers, millions of cubic metres of kauri were removed from the forest and transported to ships for export. The leviathans of the forest, and like the great whales, the world must mourn their slaughter. 

– David Bellamy on the era of kauri logging in part five

New Zealanders are now doing their bit to save the little they do have left. Some farmers who have a kauri forest on their land enter into an agreement or covenant with the National Trust to protect their patch. This means that Bill Tomlinson's forest is now permanently protected. Yes, even if he decides to sell his farm.

– David Bellamy on new conservation efforts in part five

We have got a piece of paper with our name on the title, saying that we own this land, this farm. But really, the land's been here for millions of years. It's going to be here for millions of years after we've gone. So we're really only caretaking it. So I guess, yeah, we're doing it for the future generations.

– Farmer Bill Tomlinson on protecting the forests on his land in part five