The National Party has announced its forestry policy, designed to “get NZ planting again.” Forestry Spokesman Shane Ardern says National will reverse the deforestation which has occurred during the past four years, and will “re-engage” with foresters and forestry owners, encourage sustainable timber products and “help the forestry industry become a significant player in NZ’s economic development once more.”

Ardern notes between 1951 and 2003, more trees were planted than felled every year, building up NZ’s forestry resource to 1.9m ha. But in the past four years, 35% of felled forests have not been replanted. Ardern blames this deforestation on Labour’s “disastrous forestry and climate change policies which have alienated and divided the forestry industry.”

National is promising to establish a forestry offset scheme, subject to a full assessment of the costs. It will also negotiate to include offset schemes for plantation forests in international climate change agreements. Ardern says National will support the Afforestation Grant Scheme to encourage tree-planting in small forests and farms. It will also “streamline and simplify” the Resource Management Act process to reduce delays, uncertainties and costs.

National is also promising to refine the Forest Industry Development Agenda consistent with priorities identified by and agreed to by the Govt and industry. The NZ Forest Owners Association has welcomed National’s policy, saying the party has listened to forest growers’ submissions.

President Peter Berg says the Association is pleased National has confirmed its earlier commitment to address the plight of owners of pre-1990 forests who are being penalised under the emissions trading scheme for planting trees before 1990. Berg is also encouraged by the intention to refine the FIDA. He says FIDA funding has been instrumental in progressing some valuable areas of common interest, including regional development funding for roads in Northland and Tairawhiti, co-funding of research and support for wood design initiatives and the NZ Wood promotion.

Berg adds reform of the Resource Management Act, especially relating to the development of national standards for normal forestry operations, has long been a forest industry priority. He says while National has focused on cutting red tape for big projects, which is important, forest owners’ main concern is to see processes streamlined for everyday forestry operations such as planting, roading and harvesting.

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