Policy Area: Forestry

Statement of General Direction:

Maintain economic policies creating investment opportunities and growth in forestry, and encourage forestry and agricultural sectors to work closely together to achieve integrated sustainable management.

Key Initiatives of Policy:

Employment opportunities created by afforestation projects, in particular the East Coast forestry project.

Encourage planting of native trees on a commercial basis and protect the property rights of those who do so.

Review the Timberlands management of West Coast Accord Beech for ests.

Negotiate to end clearfelling of indigenous forests in Southland and Otago by South Island landless Maori.

Phase out woodchip exports from Southland.

Consultation with South Island landless Maori on the issue of compensation arising out of the prevention of clearfelling of indigenous forests.

Fiscal Implications of this Policy Agreement:

There is a recognised fiscal cost for compensation for ending clearfelling of South Island Landless Maoris Act lands.

(All funding proposals subject to being considered within the agreed spending policy parameters.)

Legislative Implications of this Policy Agreement:

Legislation may be required to achieve sustainable management of South Island Landless Maoris Act forests.