She said two restructuring processes in as many years had left the Department of Conservation ''dead in the water'' and many Otago staff were still ''waiting for the axe to fall'' in the latest round.
''It's rudderless, so completely traumatised,'' Prof Smith said.
Prof Smith, the head of marine science at the University of Otago, ended her eight years on the board on June 30 ''disillusioned''.
''It's deeply distressing . . . to see the destruction of the really good work of the department,'' she said.
Much of her time on the board was dedicated to developing the Otago Conservation Management Strategy (CMS), the 10-year plan describing how the region's native plants, animals and special places Doc looked after would be managed.
However, the draft document, which went out for public consultation last week, reflected little of what the board had written in consultation with others, she said.
''I'm disappointed; disenchanted with the entire process. What's the point of having a plan?''
Last week, when still board chairwoman, Prof Smith was encouraging people to have their say on the strategy, but now admitted she could not guarantee it ''would make any damn difference''.
Fellow former board member Andrew Penniket, whose term also ended last week, agreed, calling the strategy a ''farce'' and a ''waste of time'', especially as marine reserves had not been mentioned at all.
Tourists came to New Zealand to see its animals, plants and the outdoors, but protecting them appeared to be a low priority for the Government, he said.
They both believed the strategy had been standardised and sanitised by Doc, which did the final draft. Prof Smith said Doc had cut all the material ''fundamental'' to Otago out of the strategy, such as having seasonal recreation areas.
''It's desperately short-sighted. It is a standard CMS with little regard for the people of Otago.''
The board had been fighting for recognition of the marine area in Otago for the past eight years, without making any progress.
Species important to Otago, such as the yellow-eyed penguin, albatross and sea lions, were already struggling in the marine environment, she said.
''Without actively restoring the very damage to ecosystems, how do we manage the impacts?''
In an effort to address this, the board had included a ''marine place'' in the management strategy, including a milestone of having a marine protected area in place off the coast of Otago in five years.
The final draft of the strategy just asked for a ''report back'' on progress, ''gutting'' the intent to the point it could cover anywhere in the world, Prof Smith said.
''It is the waffliest, vaguest ... it's not a real milestone - the people of Otago should be concerned about this as Dunedin's wildlife tourism is based on the marine environment.''
Gary Nixon, whose nine years on the board also ended last month, said there was a lack of value put on the statutory processes set out by the National Parks and Conservation Acts.
''They do not give them the regard and respect they're intended to have.''
It was ironic Doc was seeking partnerships with the community when, at the same time, it was ignoring the statutory processes which gave the community a voice, he said.
The last strategy was 700 pages long, compared with the draft's 130, he said.
It was generic in comparison and lacked strong Otago flavour.
''It's a huge step backwards.''
It also lacked comprehensive policies for governing the region's three high country parks, appeared to be ''facilitating'' towards business and was worrying in its lack of commitment to advocate for conservation under the Resource Management Act.
He was also concerned some of the changes could undermine the Mt Aspiring management plan.
A Doc spokesman said there would always be room for regional and national priorities in the CMS, and Doc wanted to hear from communities about the places that were important to them.
The format changed because Doc was aiming for greater consistency across the region.
''We're aiming for a more streamlined model. They will have a nationally consistent manner and style, which will allow us to co-ordinate them better.''
As of July 1, the Otago Conservation Board had six remaining board members, including two iwi representatives, as the Conservation Minister is not due to make a decision on its future until Doc's new structure comes into effect in September.
Friday's scheduled board meeting was cancelled.
Conservation boards
• Provide for interaction between a community and the Department of Conservation.
• Independent bodies, established by statute.
• Each board represents the public interest in Doc's work.
• They advise Doc and the New Zealand Conservation Authority. Draft 10-year strategies for Otago, Southland and Canterbury released last week.
• Explains priorities for management of conservation resources, parks, plants and animal species.
• Open for public submissions until September 13, then hearings will be held.
• Conservation boards draft final plans.
