MAF Policy News
Issue 12, October 2008
ISSN 1177-701X
Forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme
The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading) Amendment Act 2008 received the royal assent on 25 September 2008. This means that the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) is now live. The new legislation amends the Climate Change Response Act 2002, which is the principal piece of legislation.
Forestry the first sector to enter the ETS
Forestry is the first sector to enter the scheme (effective 1 January 2008) because it plays a core role in managing New Zealand's carbon footprint.
Under the legislation:
- Forest landowners who deforest pre-1990 forest land any time from 1 January 2008 incur emissions liabilities;
- New Zealand Units (NZUs) can be earned for net increases in carbon stocks in post-1989 forest land from 1 January 2008, at a rate of one NZU per one tonne of carbon dioxide.
A new web resource: www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry
A new web page has been developed specifically for Sustainable Forestry and the ETS (Forestry).
Click here for an overview of the Scheme for the forestry sector, FAQs, fact sheets, key dates, news updates and publications including A Guide to Forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme and the Draft Forestry Allocation Plan.
Consultation on the Draft Forestry Allocation Plan
The Draft Forestry Allocation Plan outlines the Government's intended approach to allocating NZUs to pre-1990 forest owners and to granting exemptions under the ETS.
Submissions on the Draft Forestry Allocation Plan are due by 28 February 2009.
- Click here for a copy of the Draft Forestry Allocation Plan and other supporting information.
- Click here for a submissions form.
Submissions can be sent by email or posted to FAP Submissions, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, PO Box 2526, Wellington 6140.
Public workshops
Public workshops about forestry and the ETS will be held around the country early in the New Year. The workshops will include details of the Draft Forestry Allocation Plan and the pre-1990 forest land exemption policies.
Dates and venues will be provided in future issues of the Sustainable Forestry Bulletin and posted on www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry
Subscribe to the Sustainable Forestry Bulletin
The Sustainable Forestry Bulletin aims to keep everyone up to date with information about MAF's sustainability and climate change schemes that relate to forestry.
- To subscribe, click here.
- To read the latest bulletin click here.
Sustainable Programmes
MAF's Programmes Directorate has changed its name to Sustainable Programmes. This directorate implements MAF's "sustainable programmes" including Forestry in the ETS, the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI), the Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS), the East Coast Forestry Project and Indigenous Forestry.
- Click here for information on the programmes.
Afforestation Grant Scheme allocates $0.93 million and opens second tender round
The Afforestation Grant Scheme's (AGS) first public tender round recently granted nine recipients a total of $927 000 to plant new forests. The funding will be spread over the next two years and allocated to nine projects in the Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago regions. It is expected 124 hectares will be planted this year and it is hoped to further increase new plantings in 2009.
A second public tender pool round is currently open for plantings for the 2009 period. This tender round closes on 31 October.
For more information
- Click here for more information on the AGS and to read the AGS Guidelines.
- Or click here for an AGS application form.
New Publications
Horticulture and Arable Monitoring Report 2008 now available
MAF's Horticulture and Arable Monitoring Report 2008 was released in October. The report presents information on the production and financial status of growers and arable farmers. This year's report shows that despite increasing costs many growers in the horticulture and arable sectors had an improved financial outcome for the 2008 harvest season. It examines energy efficiency and managing an appreciating exchange rate as horticultural and arable sectors work to ensure a sustainable future and remain ahead of major competitors.
For more information
- Click here for a fact sheet containing key highlights of the report.
- Click here for a copy of the report.
- For a printed copy email policy.publications@maf.govt.nz
Early web releases for Pastoral Monitoring
For the first time this year, sheep and beef monitoring information has been published as an early web release to aid the industry in planning and forecasting processes. Each release highlights key results for sheep and beef farm models as well as model budget and expenditure financial results and forecasts.
Releases are now available for all farm monitoring sectors – kiwifruit, viticulture, pipfruit and arable models as well as regional dairy, deer and sheep and beef models.
For more information
- Click here for Pastoral Monitoring early web releases for sheep and beef, dairy and deer.
- Click here to view this year's monitoring reports.
Two forest industry reports now available
MAF recently released two new Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecasts - for Hawkes Bay and East Coast regions.
Hawkes Bay
The Hawkes Bay forecasts show wood availability in the region looks to remain relatively static over the next decade and is projected to increase after 2016. This means there is potential for regional harvest to increase from the current level of about 1.7 million cubic metres to around 3 million cubic metres after 2021.
- Click here for a copy of the Hawkes Bay report.
East Coast
The East Coast forecasts indicate a steady increase in wood availability for the region over the next 12 years; and potential for significantly greater increase through a 25-year period. The forecasts show that the availability of radiata pine from the region will gradually increase from 1.1 million cubic metres to around 2 million cubic metres per year from 2008 to 2013, and can increase to 3.4 million cubic metres per year between 2020 and 2034. The report outlines that while great potential exists, current infrastructure will come under increasing pressure for expansion.
- Click here for a copy of the East Coast report.
- For all forest industry and wood availability reports click here.
- For printed copies email policy.publications@maf.govt.nz
Future Drivers for New Zealand Forestry
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This is a new report drawing together the key drivers considered critical in influencing the direction of forestry in New Zealand over the next 20 years. These key factors are briefly explored to anticipate the strengths, opportunities and threats to future sustainable growth in the forestry sector.
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Funding granted for community irrigation and water storage
MAF announced seven successful grant recipients under its first funding round of the Community Irrigation Fund (CIF) in August. Approximately $390 000 funding up to 2011/2012 has been allocated for six projects in the South Island and one project in the North Island. The grant provides support to promoters of community irrigation and water storage schemes and funds up to half of the cash costs for appropriate activities. Applications for the next funding will close in February 2009.
The CIF was established in 2007 and is a contestable fund of $6.4 million spread over an eight-year period. It is part of Government's wider sustainability and climate change initiatives.
- Click here to read about the Community Irrigation Fund.
Walking Access Bill passed
A Bill to enhance and extend walking access to New Zealand's outdoor heritage was passed on 25 September 2008 with strong support from both sides of the House.
The Walking Access Act 2008 establishes a New Zealand Walking Access Commission that will provide national leadership and a central point for the coordination of all walking access in New Zealand. Once fully implemented, the Commission will provide information and advice on walking access routes and a code of conduct for the use of such access. It will also negotiate new walking access across private land, for example, to lakes, rivers and forests, and facilitate the resolution of local and regional disputes relating to walking access.
- Click here to go to the Walking Access website.
Partnership on new climate change research announced
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology are teaming up on new research into climate change for the land based sectors. The partnership will provide $4.6 million funding this financial year for research in the agricultural and forestry sectors – including adaptation to climate change, reducing agricultural emissions, enhancing forest sinks, and cross-sectoral issues such as the economics and social sciences related to climate change.
The partnership represents the second phase of research under the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Plan of Action.
- Information and applications for funding can be downloaded from the FRST website: www.frst.govt.nz
Integrated and systematic approach launched
The AgResearch Chair in Systems Thinking and Practice is a joint initiative between AgResearch and the University of Queensland that promotes an integrated and systemic approach to solve complex challenges such as those faced by New Zealand agriculture. The launch of the Chair was co-hosted in Wellington in September by AgResearch and MAF.
These organisations believe traditional approaches must evolve to become more integrated and systematic in order to address some of the complex issues that confront the pastoral sector, and using new tools such as systems thinking is a key way forward.
- Click here for more information about the Chair and Approach.
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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