Natural Resources Group
The Natural Resources Group (NRG) of MAF Policy deals with challenging environmental issues relating to the agriculture and forestry sectors. The group promotes high standards of natural resource and environmental management in primary production, while supporting the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of the sectors and their communities.
The Natural Resources Group's business includes:
- climate change policy development and the implementation of policies relating to agricultural emissions and forest sinks;
- the policy framework for the management (quality, allocation and development) of water resources;
- recreational access to and across rural land;
- forestry in relation to indigenous forests, forests for soil erosion protection and SILNA forestry policy.
- environmental legislation, regulations, policies and plans affecting the sectors, including the Resource Management Act 1991; and
- other issues and policies relevant to New Zealand's productive natural resources.
The group includes two operational units, the East Coast Forestry Project (ECFP), based in Gisborne and the Indigenous Forestry Unit (IFU), based in Christchurch and Rotorua. The ECFP provides grants to landholders in order to encourage commercial forestry or indigenous reversion on severely erosion-prone land in the Gisborne District. The IFU’s role is to administer the Forests Act for sustainable management of New Zealand’s privately-owned indigenous forests, and the government’s Permanent Forests Sinks Initiative to encourage carbon sequestration.
MAF’s Christchurch, Nelson and Dunedin offices provide information and policy input to the Natural Resources Group. These South Island offices keep a finger on the pulse of rural New Zealand by liaising directly with the sectors and stakeholders on primary production and community issues, and the management of adverse events.They form an important link between the regions and Wellington.
Contact for Inquiries
Mike Jebson
Director
Sustainable Resource Use
MAF Policy
Tel: 64 4 894 0696
Fax: 64 4 894 0745
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