Forestry’s role in offsetting emissions
Forestry has a role to play in reducing net greenhouse gas emissions in Canterbury/Waitaha.
Planting trees helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by sequestering carbon. Trees sequester carbon while they are growing and then release it once the wood decomposes or is burned.
Plantation forestry, harvested and replanted in rotations, and permanent forests generally store more carbon than is released through their harvest or natural regeneration cycles.
Trees can also act as a source of biofuel to help minimise the use of fossil fuel.
New Zealand’s first Emissions Reduction Plan, released in May 2022, recognises that reducing emissions of greenhouse gases is the Government’s priority. Forestry has a part to play in offsetting the emissions from sectors that cannot easily reduce or remove their emissions.
The Emissions Reduction Plan supports afforestation – particularly with native forests and maintaining existing forests. One of the visions included in the plan is for much of Aotearoa’s remote, unproductive and highly erodible land to be forested.
Existing forestry in Waitaha (Figure 1)
Afforestation incentives
Afforestation is incentivised through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) - where carbon credits can be earned for newly planted forests. So long as the land continues to be used for forests, the credits do not need to be repaid.
These incentives are anticipated to drive an increase in forests and forestry activity in Waitaha (See Figure 1 above). The billion-tree program has enabled the planting of large areas of mainly exotic forests in Waitaha (See Figure 2 below). Once the agricultural emissions levy is put in place, tree planting is likely to increase further to help offset on-farm emissions.
The complexity of the ETS makes exotic planting more attractive to landowners than indigenous planting. As a result, it is likely that there will be an increase in permanent exotic forests in Waitaha.
Figure 2. Source: mpi.govt.nz
Current actions or approach
Government policy, such as the ETS and National Adaptation Plan (NAP), is driving the planting of forestry, including permanent carbon forestry.
The Government is reviewing the way that carbon sequestration is estimated, including recognising carbon storage by indigenous forest management practices. This will assist with encouraging greater commitment to planting indigenous forests, which will in turn have a positive impact on terrestrial biodiversity.
The National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) are in place to provide nationally consistent environmental standards to the forestry industry. These standards do not currently apply to permanent carbon forestry that is not harvested in cycles. Some adverse effects from permanent carbon forestry, such as wilding conifer spread, may need to be addressed in regional and district plans.