Downside of forests

The forestry invasion (Nov 5) described how land is being taken over by exotic, mainly pine, forests.

There are a number of negatives around pine forests. Underneath they are a desert. Who would go for a walk or picnic in a pine forest? Do we, or tourists, want to look at rows of pine trees?

Rural settlements are shrinking as forests, many of them overseas-owned, take over the land.

Wilding pines are spreading and costing millions to contain and I am not aware that foresters contribute to that cost. The destruction of forest slash after a storm.

Trucks loaded with logs are putting pressure on our roads.

Meanwhile, China has announced it intends planting 70 billion trees by 2030, so the export value of logs will shrink.

The Government needs to make it uneconomic for forests to be planted with the sole aim of securing carbon credits. John Whitty, Aro Valley