Input from a wide spectrum of stakeholders indicates conflicting interests around permanent carbon forests, coupled with lack of clarity and considerable misunderstanding among media and the general public. The emphasis, mainly from the agricultural sector, is to implement a national strategic plan to sort out different aspects of carbon farming. However the forestry sector warns of unintended consequences if draconian regulations come into force.
While many livestock farmers throughout the nation question the intention of permanent carbon forest owners to carry out the plans being promoted - in the long term - the mantra remains, “the right tree in the right place for the right reasons”. Researchers, meanwhile, say so far there has been a lack of research to determine actual time frames to transition exotic permanent (non-harvest) plantations to native forests.
In the April 2022 issue of NZ Logger, on sale April 4, forestry writer, Jim Childerstone, attempts to get some perspective on carbon forestry after reviewing an array of responses from stakeholders and independent organisations concerned with permanent forestry. Check the link on this page to subscribe to either a printed or digital copy (or both).
