News and views

ForestX Comment





Recent radio interviews have suggested that healthy debate may be taking place within Government as to sensible levels of forestry for the future. When asked whether too much land was destined for forestry, the Prime Minister indicated comfort with current projections. Asked the same question a week later, the Minister of Forestry indicated that we may not wish to see much more productive pasture disappear into trees. Regardless, net greenhouse gas emissions as measured by Statistics NZ are rising not falling. It seems right that we are at last debating whether the current policy settings are consistent with our Paris Accord commitments and the Carbon Zero goal for 2050. It is heartening to see that this debate has started, even within the Government. Is it time we now heard from forest investors on the issues?