Farm Forestry New ZealandPlanting a billion trees
Julie Collins, New Zealand Tree Grower May 2018.
Land owners across New Zealand hold the key to realising the social, economic and environmental benefits from planting trees. The commercial forestry sector is projected to plant half a billion trees in the next 10 years, but there are examples of private landowners, government agencies, NGOs, iwi, regional councils, nurseries and the private sector working to plant the other half billion.
The government has a big part to play, but private land owners are vital in terms of potential land to plant, as are the nurseries who will need to ramp up their seedling production. For example, up to $5.8 million from the Provincial Growth Fund will be invested over three years to enable the Minginui Nursery in Bay of Plenty to scale up production of forestry grade native seedlings.
Planting native and exotic tree species
Many can see the potential for planting commercial crops of radiata pine in the traditional way and this can have a range of benefits for soil and water quality. The One Billion Trees Programme is focussed on enabling planting a wide range of native and exotic species. There is opportunity for a mix of permanent and harvestable plantings, exotics and natives.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is developing options to help planting efforts, with funding available to help land owners to plant trees and to be part of meeting the billion trees target. Many councils have funding available to help with planting and fencing, and there is an investment programmes, including the Afforestation Grant Scheme which provides $1,300 a hectare for new forests of between five and 300 hectares.
Opening later this year is the Erosion Control Funding Programme for treatment of Gisborne’s most severely erodible land, to help ensure it remains productive and sustainable for future generations. To date, the programme has provided around $49.8 million and treated 42,000 hectares of erodible land. Applications for Erosion Control Funding Programme investment towards community projects can be made at any time. The Hill Country Erosion Programme will also be opening later this year for applications. In addition the Crown Forestry team at MPI is currently talking to land owners interested in entering a joint forestry venture or in leasing land for planting.
Complementing existing land uses
Tree planting does not aim to take over or hinder existing land uses, such as farming. It can be complementary to the existing farming business from an environmental and economic perspective, while helping land owners to create more resilient landscapes. Planting trees reduces erosion by helping to keep the soil on the land, improving pasture productivity and water quality.
Planting trees is also New Zealand’s best method for storing carbon to offset emissions. Estimates suggest a billion trees could remove an additional 10 to 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2030. Trees have many benefits, from creating local jobs and careers in the industry and addressing environmental issues, to helping New Zealand meet its climate change targets.
MPI is working on a programme to help provide land owners and others with access to useful information about planting trees and the incentives and mechanisms available. Part of this is about getting to events to speak to land owners. The aim is to help them to make decisions on whether planting trees is right for their circumstances and right for their land. In addition policies are being developed to avoid unintended environmental or economic results, land is being identified, seedlings are being grown, private investment is being stimulated and infrastructure is being developed.
Extra planting will start when the new season opens in winter – it will be low in this initial year, then quickly ramp up. Around 55 million trees will be planted this year, and increase to 70 million in 2019, then 90 million in 2020. From there, the aim is to plant 110 million trees a year over the next seven years of the programme.
Julie Collins is Head of Forestry at the Ministry for Primary Industries leading the One Billion Trees Programme.
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