Afforestation Grant Scheme

September 2009
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)

The Afforestation Grants Scheme (AGS) is a contestable fund designed to encourage the establishment of new forests. It is part of the Government’s package of climate change initiatives and offers an alternative to the Emissions Trading Scheme (Forestry) as a way to encourage greater levels of greenhouse gas absorption by increasing the area of Kyoto-compliant new forest in New Zealand.

There are two funding pools in the AGS. Half of the funding is available via a Regional Council pool to help them meet their sustainable land management objectives. The other half is available to the general public via a public tender pool administered by MAF.

The majority of the public funding pool is allocated to species with high carbon sequestration rates. These include the usual exotic plantation species such as radiata pine and Douglas fir.

The remaining 30 percent of the public pool is reserved for species with low sequestration rates. This is as a result of public interest in planting indigenous species, which have low carbon sequestration rates.

Applications for forest establishment grants under the Public Pool of the Afforestation Grant Scheme are open until 30 April and 31 October each year.

Contents

The Afforestation Grant Scheme Guidelines provide information for landowners on the operation of the grant scheme. They cover:

- who can tender for a grant, and what land and forest is eligible;
- landowner rights and obligations, both during and after the term of the grant agreement;
- how to tender for a grant, and the tender evaluation process; and
- what to expect if a grant is approved.

PDF Downloads

Contact for Enquiries

Afforestation Grant Scheme
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington 6140
Tel: 0800 CLIMATE (254 628)
Email: sustainableforestry@maf.govt.nz

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