FOA welcomes budget allocation for forestry

THE FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION (FOA) WELCOMES budget measures to assist economic recovery, saying it’s keen to work with government and the rest of the primary industries to implement government investment aimed at reviving the economy after the COVID-19 crisis.

President, Phil Taylor, says forestry will have an important role in both employment for exports, and in supporting domestic processing.

“Forestry has a lead role in New Zealand’s economic recovery. We are on track to be earning $7 billion a year in export receipts and we are a major employer, especially in regional New Zealand.

“We are keen that the $500 million to support the primary sector announced in the Budget will include the forest industry. We will be a major contributor in using our trees in the fight against climate change over the next few years, and there is the need to integrate all land uses in this huge challenge.

“The Budget allocation of $43.4 million for ‘Rebuilding Forestry

Emissions Trading Scheme’ appears also to represent a major step in making the ETS a real instrument for this purpose.”

Other relevant areas of the Budget include loans to boost research and development, and a spend on improving rail services and ports, both of which are important for log transport and export.

“We’ve noted free trades’ training for our increasingly mechanised industry, improved access for Mãori into training, and a boost to Trade and Enterprise for helping access into overseas markets. A larger spend on biosecurity is another investment which will further protect the rural landscape across a range of land use,” says Mr Taylor.

“Another important announcement is the $5 billion for building 8,000 new homes. We hope there are government efforts to ensure the use of timber as much as possible. This would reduce the use of carbon emitting steel and concrete and really help our domestic processing industry and we would really support this,” he adds.

NZL