Billion tree timetable gives industry confidence
FOREST OWNERS SAY THE RECENT announcement of the timetable for the government’s billion tree ten-year project gives confidence that the massive afforestation is a serious proposition.
Forestry Minister, Shane Jones, says the government programme will see a gradual rise of tree numbers planted out every year as seedlings become available and he expects that from 2022 planting will be in full swing at an annual rate of 110,000 hectares a year. The planting would start with 55 million trees this year (mostly replanting of harvested forests), scaling up to 70 million in 2019 and 90 million in 2020.
Peter Clark, who has just stepped down as Forest Owners Association President, says there are plenty of sceptics who believe the government will not get to the billion tree target over ten years.
“A billion trees represents 100,000 hectares of plantings per year on average. The effective planting start-up year, with seedlings started off this winter, will be 2019,” he says.
“So, first up, 70,000 hectares represents a good beginning to grow the national forest estate which has been static for nearly 20 years.”
Mr Clark also predicts the $6.5 million fund for Afforestation Grants, announced by Mr Jones at the same time as the billion tree programme, will be over subscribed and there could be complications for future harvesting if land owners did not think carefully about where to plant.
“At $1,300 per hectare, the grant will cover the total planting costs for most landowners who choose to go into it,” says Mr Clark. “I would also hope the scheme can be expanded in future years.
“The scheme applies to forest plots between five and 300 hectares. This could lead to too many isolated woodlots, but if farmers amalgamated their plots it would pay off in reduced harvesting costs.”
Mr Clark says he expects the next stage of the billion tree project will be to provide details of the planned species and geographical mix. He says: “Millable indigenous species, such as Totara and Beech are obviously going to be part of the mix, along with others planted to convert grassland into native forestland.
“But if forest plantings are to help with reducing the pain of meeting our Paris Accord commitments then we will need fast-growing exotics such as Radiata Pine, Douglas-fir and Eucalypts. It is never too early to start providing for what will be required to manage, harvest and process large volumes of these tree species.
“Our industry is also pleased that the government is making the development of infrastructure a priority. Roads in the Tairawhiti region in particular have been in decline and this is not good for anyone using that network, including our industry. Government undertakings to fix these roads as soon as physically possible is vitally good news.”
Forestry Minister Jones indicated in his plan that $450,000 will be provided for a Totara industry pilot in Northland to explore a new forestry market for native timber.