Boost for billion trees plan
The Government has committed $240 million to boost to its goal of planting a billion trees.
Forestry Minister Shane Jones said Cabinet had approved the creation of a new grants programme and partnership fund to get more trees in the ground while providing training and employment opportunities.
‘‘We’re allocating $240m from the Provincial Growth Fund to support tree planting in areas where wider social, environmental, and regional development goals can be achieved,’’ Jones said.
‘‘We’re strengthening our support for planting over the next three to four years in areas where there are currently limited commercial drivers for investment, and where wider social, environmental or regional development benefits can be achieved.’’
The new grants scheme would provide ‘‘simple and accessible’’ direct funding to landowners for the cost of planting and establishing trees and regenerating indigenous forest. It would be open to private landowners, government agencies, nongovernment organisations (NGOs) and iwi.
‘‘These grants will be available from later this year and we’re aiming to encourage the planting of natives, trees for erosion control, and environmentally focused planting,’’ he said.
The grants would pay for an additional 60 million trees over the next three years.
‘‘On top of this, a new partnership fund will create an even closer working relationship between Forestry New Zealand, Te Uru Ra¯ kau, regional councils, NGOs, training organisations, Ma¯ ori landowners and community groups,’’ Jones added.
About $118m would be set aside for grants and a further $120m for partnership projects over three years. This is in addition to the $245m committed for tree planting.