Hon Pete Hodgson
Convenor, Ministerial Group on Climate Change
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| Wednesday, 19 May 2004 |
Media Statement |
Climate change policy rewards permanent reforestation
The owners of permanent forests established since 1990 will be able to get
Kyoto Protocol carbon credits under a new government climate change policy.
The permanent forest sink initiative has been developed to recognise the
long-term value of permanent reforestation, says the Convenor of the Ministerial
Group on Climate Change, Pete Hodgson.
Forests absorb carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases contributing
to climate change. The Kyoto Protocol recognises this by allocating 'forest
sink' credits for forests planted since its benchmark year of 1990.
For at least the first commitment period of the Protocol [2008-2012] the
government is retaining the forest sink credits and associated deforestation
liabilities that New Zealand receives for commercial plantation forests
established since 1990. However the government recognises that permanent
reforestation creates forest sinks of enduring value, without the deforestation
liability issues and other policy complexities that accompany regular clear-fell
harvesting.
This programme creates an opportunity for landowners, probably of largely
marginal land, to gain financially by re-establishing permanent forests," Mr
Hodgson said. "Landowners meeting the requirements of the permanent forest sink
initiative will be able to get internationally tradeable carbon credits they can
bank or sell.
As a further incentive for reforestation, owners will be able to harvest
timber from their forests, but only after 35 years and on a continuous canopy
basis. Earlier harvesting or clearfelling of the forest would incur penalty
payments.
Mr Hodgson said credits would be allocated through contracts between forest
land owners and the Crown, registered against land titles and binding all future
landowners.
The permanent forest sink initiative will be administered by the Indigenous
Forests Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Questions and Answers attached.
Contact: Graeme Speden, press secretary, 04 471 9707 / 021 270 9055
graeme.speden@parliament.govt.nz
Contact for Enquiries
Indigenous Forestry Unit
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
14 Sir William Pickering Drive
PO Box 20 280
Bishopdale
Christchurch 8053
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: 64 3 943 3700
Fax: 64 3 943 3701
Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park
99 Sala Street
PO Box 1340
Rotorua
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: 64 7 921 3400
Fax: 64 7 921 3402
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