Latest news with #NewZealandForestOwnersAssociation
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Forest Owners Support Restoration Of National Consistency To Forest Regulation
Press Release – NZ Forest Owners Association New Zealand Forest Owners Associationchief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the forestry sector has long called for clearer, nationally consistent regulation that provides certainty for growers. The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) says proposed reforms to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF) will go some way in addressing the challenges forest owners face due to variable and unjustified local council rules. Announced today by Forestry Minister Hon Todd McClay, the reform looks to tighten and clarify the conditions under which councils can impose rules more stringent than the NES-CF and review forestry operations requirements for management of harvest debris. New Zealand Forest Owners Association chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the forestry sector has long called for clearer, nationally consistent regulation that provides certainty for growers. 'Forest owners have been subject to a growing patchwork of conflicting council rules that contradict national policy,' Elizabeth says. 'Over time, these local variations have disrupted forestry operations, jeopardised long-term investment and undermined confidence in one of New Zealand's most sustainable and regionally significant industries.' 'The NES-CF was originally designed to ensure national consistency in how forestry is managed. It's hoped that, from our initial reading, these proposed changes will help restore that intent and recognise the vital role forestry plays in New Zealand's economic and environmental future.' Elizabeth says forestry is not looking for a regulatory pass – but a fair, science-based regulatory environment that reflects forestry's important contributions to sustainable fibre production, biodiversity and climate outcomes and regional employment. 'It's critical that the reform strikes a careful balance between enabling operational efficiency and strong environmental safeguards by remaining rooted in scientifically supported change.' Elizabeth says the proposed introduction of a mandatory Slash Mobilisation Risk Assessment could be a constructive, practical tool for the industry that will reinforce the work the sector is already undertaking to mitigate climate-induced risk. 'We want to be good neighbours and we want to operate to high standards,' Elizabeth says. 'But we need a framework that's predictable, proportionate and nationally coherent. That's what these changes could offer.' Consultation on the proposed changes to the NES-CF is open until 27 July 2025 through the Ministry for the Environment's website. The NZFOA encourages all those with a stake in the future of forestry in New Zealand — including landowners, wood processors, regional communities and iwi — to engage with the consultation process.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Forest Owners Support Restoration Of National Consistency To Forest Regulation
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) says proposed reforms to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF) will go some way in addressing the challenges forest owners face due to variable and unjustified local council rules. Announced today by Forestry Minister Hon Todd McClay, the reform looks to tighten and clarify the conditions under which councils can impose rules more stringent than the NES-CF and review forestry operations requirements for management of harvest debris. New Zealand Forest Owners Association chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the forestry sector has long called for clearer, nationally consistent regulation that provides certainty for growers. 'Forest owners have been subject to a growing patchwork of conflicting council rules that contradict national policy,' Elizabeth says. 'Over time, these local variations have disrupted forestry operations, jeopardised long-term investment and undermined confidence in one of New Zealand's most sustainable and regionally significant industries.' 'The NES-CF was originally designed to ensure national consistency in how forestry is managed. It's hoped that, from our initial reading, these proposed changes will help restore that intent and recognise the vital role forestry plays in New Zealand's economic and environmental future.' Elizabeth says forestry is not looking for a regulatory pass – but a fair, science-based regulatory environment that reflects forestry's important contributions to sustainable fibre production, biodiversity and climate outcomes and regional employment. 'It's critical that the reform strikes a careful balance between enabling operational efficiency and strong environmental safeguards by remaining rooted in scientifically supported change.' Elizabeth says the proposed introduction of a mandatory Slash Mobilisation Risk Assessment could be a constructive, practical tool for the industry that will reinforce the work the sector is already undertaking to mitigate climate-induced risk. 'We want to be good neighbours and we want to operate to high standards,' Elizabeth says. 'But we need a framework that's predictable, proportionate and nationally coherent. That's what these changes could offer.' Consultation on the proposed changes to the NES-CF is open until 27 July 2025 through the Ministry for the Environment's website. The NZFOA encourages all those with a stake in the future of forestry in New Zealand — including landowners, wood processors, regional communities and iwi — to engage with the consultation process.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Farmers celebrate new rules limiting forestry conversions - but do loopholes remain?
McClay said the Government was focused on maintaining strong food and fibre production while supporting sustainable land use. 'We remain concerned about the effect that farm conversions are having on highly productive land, particularly sheep and beef farms in Northland, the East Coast and parts of Otago and Southland.' While Federated Farmers ' meat and wool chair Toby Williams welcomed the changes, he worried loopholes remained that allow for further farm-to-forest conversions. Williams also raised concerns about transitional measures for landowners, with evidence that they were in the process of afforestation prior to the announcement, such as ordering seedlings. 'The idea that buying seedlings before December 2024 is an intention to plant is an absolute joke,' he said, adding it created a loophole for exploitation. 'If a forester didn't own the land, they can't have had any real commitment to plant it. 'Having a contract on seedlings shouldn't be accepted. 'We're also hearing stories of farmland being bought for conversion to forestry, with the intention of on-selling to foreign investors to get around overseas investment rules.' Williams said forestry was important and he wanted to see more processing and value-added programmes in New Zealand - his concerns related to the loss of productive farmland. New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) president Matt Wakelin said the new planting rules were creating 'uncertainty' for forest owners, with nurseries already reporting reduced demand for seedlings. 'New Zealand forest owners are supportive of integrated land use where farming and forestry can co-exist, however, this new policy appears to restrict forestry rather than recognise it as a vital primary industry and core contributor to climate mitigation.' He said the moratorium on full farm afforestation and the limiting of planting on Land Use Classes 1-6 was 'unduly hurting' forest owners, and much of New Zealand's LUC6 land was ill-suited for food production but ideal for planting trees. 'The restrictions placed on LUC6 land pushes planting of trees to marginal or less productive land, which will have an impact on future timber and fibre supply, jobs and forestry's ability to support New Zealand in meeting its climate change obligations.' Wakelin said the changes also added another layer of complexity to the ETS, and more clarity was needed.
