Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment - Te Kaitiaki Taiao a Te Whare Pāremata

Feedback to Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: Review of MAF Afforestation Schemes

I am writing in response to your request for feedback from the public as part of the review of four afforestation schemes. My feedback is concentrated on the second review area (“issues”) and the third review area (“future options”), and not on the perfomance of the schemes.

I recognise that afforestation schemes play an important role in climate change mitigation as well as advancing sustainable land management. I would be disappointed to see the Emissions Trading Scheme portrayed as being able to replace schemes such as those under review. It is in New Zealand’s best long term interest to retain a suite of policy mechanisms that incentivise forestry.