Public consultation opens on National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry

Proposals including broadening the control by local authorities over the planting of exotic forests in their districts, including whether to widen the scope of the regulations to include permanent exotic afforestation, with the opening of public consultation on the National Environmental Statement for Plantation Forests (NES-PF).

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the consultation supports the Government’s aim to balance the type and scale of afforestation happening across New Zealand.

“We are addressing concerns about the impacts to the environment and on rural communities from the potential conversion of productive farmland to exotic carbon forests.

“The forestry sector makes an important contribution to our economy, communities, and the environment and it is vital that the sector grows in a way that is productive and sustainable. This step helps build a high value, high wage and low emissions future for New Zealand,” O’Connor says.

Forestry Minister Stuart Nash says New Zealand is seeing greater investment in forestry due to a significant increase in the carbon price, forestry’s role in reaching the country’s emissions reduction goals, and demand for wood products.

“However, large-scale change in land use for exotic carbon forestry, if left unchecked and without any management oversight or requirements, has the potential for unintended impacts on the environment, rural communities and regional economies.”

Nash says the proposed changes include local government having more discretion to decide on the location, scale, type and management of plantation and exotic carbon forests in their districts.

“We’re seeking feedback on options for giving local councils more control over which land can be used for afforestation including both plantation and exotic carbon forests, through the resource consent process. Councils would be able to decide based on social and economic factors which are specific to their areas and communities,” he says.

Associate Minister for Local Government Kieran McAnulty says uncontrolled planting of permanent forestry undermines the sustainability of rural communities.

“That’s why the Government has expanded Labour’s Manifesto commitment, and want to give local councils the ability to determine where and to what extent exotic carbon forests can be planted across all land classes,” he says.

“Local councils know their communities best, and I encourage everyone, rural and urban, to submit to allow their council to permit exotic carbon forestry in a way the community wants.”

Ministers have also confirmed the Government will maintain its long-term goal of enabling permanent forests to transition to natives over time. Further work is needed to determine the best way to achieve this. To allow for this work to be completed, and following consultation, the permanent forestry category will remain unchanged for now and come into effect on 1 January 2023.

“Exotic afforestation is a key component of New Zealand’s response to climate change. However, increasing carbon prices in the NZ ETS may lead to higher-than-expected levels of exotic carbon forestry,” Nash says.

The changes are intended to come into effect from 1 January 2025.

Ministers encourage anyone involved in forestry or with an interest in the primary sector to provide feedback through the consultation process.