Farm Forestry New ZealandNewsletter 117, January 2019
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| Newsletter 117, January 2019 | |||||
$36 million to tackle regional erosion Forest Growers Research update
President Executive
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EventsFor more information on these events, they are posted on the NZFFA website >>
The Bay of Plenty Branch welcomes you to the 63rd Annual Conference that will be based in Rotorua with field-trips across the Bay of Plenty. This Conference and Expo will bring together: technical and economic information, land owners and investors, service providers, new technologies and policies, new ideas and fresh perspectives, along with plenty of time to catch up with old friends and make new acquaintances. More >>
Reports
Headlines
Market Report$36 million to tackle regional erosionTe Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand) has announced funding of almost $36 million through the Hill Country Erosion Fund (HCEF) to enable much-needed erosion control in the regions. The HCEF supports proposals to protect our most vulnerable hill country landscapes, where the main treatment is tree planting. "We're pleased by the level of interest from councils, with 12 applications received in this latest round – 4 of which were from regions that had not previously applied," says Julie Collins, deputy director-general of forestry and head of Te Uru Rākau. "It shows the importance they are placing on sustainable land management and treating erosion in their regions." Ms Collins says the loss of productive land through erosion has a significant impact on the environment and the sustainability of New Zealand land. "The annual cost associated with hill country erosion is estimated to be between $100 million and $150 million through lost soil, nutrients and production, and damaged infrastructure and waterways," says Ms Collins. "The 12 new HCEF programmes will take place between July 2019 and June 2023 and will deliver significant improvements in erosion control. For example, these range from building regional capacity and capability to plant trees, to farm planning and land treatments including planting poplars, willows and other indigenous and exotic species. "We estimate that over 4 years, these programmes will result in more than 13 million trees being planted and treatment of more than 21,000 hectares of land," says Ms Collins. "These will contribute to the Government's One Billion Trees Programme, and deliver environmental and a range of other benefits across the country." Additional information about the HCEF >> Forest Growers Research updateHarvesting & Logistics Programme
Forest Growers Research Annual Conference 2018 - Summaries, Presentations and Videos
Changes to NZ's ETSThroughout August and September 2018, MfE, MPI and Te Uru Rakau (Forestry New Zealand) consulted on proposed improvements to the ETS. Over 250 submissions were received from businesses and industry groups, iwi and Maori, community groups and individuals; the majority of which supported the Government’s proposals. Copies of the submissions can be viewed at mfe.govt.nz/consultation/ets. Changes are to include establishing a framework which will enable New Zealand’s emissions under the ETS to be capped in future. This would restrict the number of units supplied into the scheme, increasing the incentive to reduce emissions. Improvements will focus on providing more certainty to scheme participants, with auctioning introduced into the ETS in a way that aligns the supply of units with New Zealand’s emission reduction targets. The cost containment reserve, operated through the auctioning mechanism, will replace the current price ceiling. The Government will also investigate the potential introduction of a price floor in the scheme. Information about the forestry changes planned for the ETS can be found by visiting the Ministry for Primary Industries webpage. Forestry Minister Shane Jones at the announcement said “We’re making good on our promise to encourage more forestry and make better use of land, especially on erosion-prone land. By establishing a permanent forest, with indigenous or exotic species, land owners will be able to better optimise their non-productive agricultural land and enjoy income from the sale of New Zealand units, while also increasing biodiversity and reducing erosion." Operational improvements will remove barriers to participation and compliance. Changes to offsetting and tree weed provisions will increase land-use flexibility while ensuring that the ETS supports afforestation and discourages deforestation. Also, the addition of permanent forests to the emissions trading scheme will replace the current Permanent Forestry Sink Initiative. See Shane Jones press release.
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