27 April 2016

The second funding round for New Zealand's Afforestation Growth Scheme (AGS) opened this week and comes at an important time for forestry, Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew announced.

"The goal of the AGS is to increase the planting of new forests and the rate of afforestation. Estimates suggest that 1.1 million hectares of land is at serious risk of erosion, and forest cover is the best form of erosion control. Through the AGS, we aim to plant 15,000 hectares of new forest by 2020, and we are on track to meet this goal," Mrs Goodhew says.

The first year of the AGS resulted in contracts of NZ$3.77 million to plant around 2,900 hectares of new forest. Applications for the Afforestation Grants Scheme open on 27 April 2016 and close on 8 June 2016 for planting in Winter 2017.

About the Afforestation Grants Scheme: - The AGS aims to enable planting of 15,000 hectares of new forest by 2020.

•  The Ministry for Primary Industries, through the AGS, provides grants of $1,300 a hectare (to a total of $19.5 million) to help with planting of new forests.
•  Any individual or any organisation that owns land or has a right to use land for forestry can apply. Applicants who are about to acquire land or a right to use land can also apply.
•  Applicants must be able to commit between 5 and 300 hectares of land to planting in new forest. - Every application is assessed against eligibility criteria, which includes consideration of a detailed technical forestry assessment.

For more information about the AGS >>

Source: NZ Government media release