10 Aug 2009
Climate Change Ministers Nick Smith and Tim Groser today announced an emissions reduction target range of 10% to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Forestry News
Newly planted forests could halve emissions by 2020
13 Aug 2009
The Government’s target for reducing net carbon emissions is achievable with the assistance of significant new investment in forest planting, the Kyoto Forestry Association (KFA) said today. The association said private investors had the capability to deliver a massive new area of planting.
Try trees before re-engineering the planet
4 Sept 2009
Geoengineering may become the plan B if efforts to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases continue to be insufficient, says the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ). But before that point is reached there is a big potential for New Zealand to plant exotic and indigenous forests, with big gains for biodiversity and negligible impact on food production.
ETS review highlights potential for Otago Southland forestry
07 Sept 2009
Grant Dodson, chair of the Southern Wood Council, says it's pleasing to see the importance of new forest plantations recognised by the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). He believes Otago and Southland are particularly well positioned because they have ideal growing conditions for Douglas-fir, a longer-rotation tree species that can produce up to twice the standing volume of timber when compared to Radiata pine, and therefore has the potential to absorb twice the amount of carbon.
Woodco supports Copenhagen communiqué
29 Sept 2009
The wood processing and forest growing association, Woodco, supports the Copenhagen Communiqué on climate change.
Timbercorp's forestry assets sold for $345m
01 Oct 2009
Timbercorp's forestry assets have been sold for about $345 million to Australian Bluegum Plantations, a wholly owned subsidiary of US timber investment fund Global Forest Partners.
Demand for NZUs from forestry greater than expected
01 Oct 2009
Demand for NZ emission units (NZUs) from the energy sector is likely to be far greater than first expected, according to a revised analysis by Euan Mason, associate professor at the Canterbury University School of Forestry. This, he says, suggests that the amended scheme will create a demand for large areas of new forest planting.
Scion makes modest profit
08 Oct 2009
Scion, the forest production and wood processing Crown Research Institute, has announced a $2.3 million net profit for the past financial year.
Record entries received for 2009 Timber Design Awards
14 Oct 2009
New Zealand’s first timber framed modular “box” home, a courtyard show garden and a sustainable farm kitchen are just three of the 48 individual design projects making up the record number of entries received for the 2009 Timber Design Awards. The awards recognise and encourage excellence in building design, engineering and construction using New Zealand timber.