June 2008
One of the common measures to address climate change is to encourage the planting of more trees. As highlighted in our recent Review of the Scoping report for an environmental assessment of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme and closely related measures, afforestation – and particularly indigenous afforestation and reversion – can have many environmental benefits.
We have analysed how the proposed climate change legislation considers indigenous afforestation and reversion and, whether it can maximise the other environmental benefits of carbon farming. The Commissioner has given advice to Parliament and to the Climate Change Leadership Forum on those matters. Additionally, this report has been prepared largely in response to the draft Climate Change (Forestry Sector) Regulations 2008.
The report describes the environmental benefits of both exotic and indigenous forestry. It then analyses if the proposed carbon returns for indigenous afforestation and reversion are fair. Finally, it considers possible alternative carbon assessment methodologies and suggests options for a way forward.
