Environment - New Zealand Forest Owners Association

NZIER Cost of Compliance Report

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:14:20 +1300

Predators in Plantation Forests

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:56:58 +1300

Report prepared by University of Canterbury, School of Forestry on the predator profile in plantation forests.

Tasman Bay storm event, July 2025 - Interpine woody debris assessment

emily.pope@nzfoa.org.nz (Emily) — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:06:52 +1200

In June and July 2025, the Nelson-Tasman Region experienced two significant weather events that brought heavy rain and strong winds. These storms caused widespread river and surface flooding, forest windthrow and debris from various land uses along the Tasman Bay coastline.

To provide an independent, evidence-based understanding of the situation, the Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) and Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service (TUR) commissioned a detailed survey and report. The goal was to assess the type, origin, and volume of large woody debris (LWD) that accumulated along the coastlin

Planted Forests and Carbon

(Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 09:55:00 +1200

Trees, forests and using wood products are some of the best immediate responses to climate change.

Forest Water Dynamics

(Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 09:53:47 +1200

Water can be available from planted forest catchments even in the driest parts of New Zealand. Forests have the potential to release water during dry periods and regulate stream ﬂow during storms and ﬂoods.

FSC Collective Contribution Fact Sheet

(Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 14:18:24 +1300

Summary data of key indicators from FSC Certified Forestry Companies 2019

Wood in streams

(Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:00:22 +1200

Large, stable pieces of wood in plantation forest streams enhance in-stream habitat and biodiversity.

Response of stream ecosystem to debris flows

(Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +1200

A case study following the recovery of a recently harvested headwater riparian and stream ecosysystem after extreme rain, flooding, and debris flows.

Fertiliser use in plantation forests

(Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 11:22:52 +1300

Fertiliser has been used in New Zealand planted forests since the mid-1960s and is historically very low. In some areas, forests receive no fertiliser. Where it is used, fertiliser is generally only applied a few times during a 25 to 30 year rotation. This fact sheet explains when and why fertiliser is applied to plantation forests, and the effects of doing so.

Blue Green Algae in New Zealand Rivers

(Anonymous) — Tue, 01 May 2018 12:49:20 +1200

The occurrence and distribution of potentially toxin-producing benthic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) mats has increased in New Zealand over the last decade. This fact sheet provides information about triggers and reasons for an increase in proliferations.

Biodiversity in Plantation Forests

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:07:27 +1300

There are some 1.7 million hectares of planted forests in New Zealand, 90% of which are in radiata pine. The mix of planted forest and native ecosystems remnants that make up these forests are home to many other species, including at least 120 threatened indigenous species.

Six Tips to help achieve compliance with the NES-PF - 13 October 2017

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 13:00:00 +1300

It is important to know what needs to be done in order to successfully implement the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry within your organisation.

It is not possible to specify a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to implementing the changes required to secure compliance with the new NES-PF regulations. Forest operators come in different sizes, they use a variety of internal management and operational procedures, and there are geographical differences in terrain and existing planning instruments which all affect how different operators will need to respond to the NES-PF.

Even so, there are some key steps that we consider are common to all forest operators that should be undertaken to help achieve compliance with the NES-PF, which are discussed below.

Debris Flows

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:11:08 +1200

There are some 1.7 million hectares of planted forests in New Zealand, and about a third of these are on erodible steepland terrain. Many of these forests were originally planted as erosion control forests and are now being harvested. There is increasing concern and media attention about the environmental effects of steepland planted forestry. These centre on the post-harvest landscape response, including the increasing occurrence of woody debris in rivers and on beaches following intense rainstorms that generate landslides,and debris flows that entrain wood and sediment.

Supersedes May 2016 version

Water Quality

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:08:13 +1200

There are some 1.7 million hectares of planted forests in New Zealand, 90% of which are in radiata pine. These forests contain an estimated 24,220 km of streams that, for most of the forest growing cycle, provide a source of high quality water to downstream users. There is increasing pressure on our water resources. However, with prudent stewardship and ongoing improvements to management practices, New Zealand’s forests will continue to
provide sustainable sources of high quality water.

Supersedes May 2016 version

Planted Forest Soils

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Planted forest soils provide many benefits including growing timber and fibre, cleaning water through filtering, and regulating flooding by storing water. New Zealand has a wide diversity of soil types. They are generally young and naturally acidic with low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur. Planted forests are typically on low fertility or steep terrain land that is not suitable for agriculture. Best management practices and ongoing improvements are needed for planted forest soils to continue to provide multiple benefits to New Zealanders. This includes maintaining fertility in a low nutrient input production system, especially as many of New Zealand’s planted forest soils are now supporting their third rotation There are also challenges in reducing soil loss through erosion in steep, erodible country, particularly during harvest.

Radiata pine pollen

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Radiata pine forests in New Zealand produce large clouds of pollen every spring.

Forest Ecosystem Services

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 12:00:00 +1200

New Zealand’s around 1.7 million hectares of planted forests contribute an export return of more than $5 billion per year from wood and fibre based products. A large amount of lumber is also used locally. Our forests are increasingly being recognised for the other products, services and benefits they can provide over and above wood, fibre and fuel. Together, these benefits are called ecosystem services and are worth far more in total than the
wood, fibre and fuel alone.

FSC Chemicals Weed Management Pamphlet

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:28:54 +1200

Minimising the environmental impact of weed management in New Zealand's planted forests - Weed control in planted forests underpins highly productive, uniform forests and is one of the most important silvicultural tools when establishing trees in New Zealand. Weed control is normally provided by herbicides.

Environmental certification schemes place an onus on the planted forest industry to reduce or stop using some pesticides in plantation forests. Between 2007 and 2015, the herbicides terbuthylazine and hexazinone were classified as highly hazardous for use in plantation forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The New Zealand planted forest industry can minimise effects on the environment and meet environmental certification criteria by optimising herbicide application methods and using alternative, more benign, herbicides.
Weed management research at Scion over the last six years has largely focussed on finding alternative, less hazardous herbicides, as well as also investigating any negative environmental impacts associate with herbicide use.

Methods to reduce the impacts of forest management on natural resources have been investigated, including targeted application of herbicides, dose optimisation and non-chemical weed control methods.

Minimising the environmental impact of forest weed management in New Zealand - Final report on field trials

RosemaryM@nzfoa.org.nz (Rosemary McFadyen) — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:00:00 +1200

Minimising the environmental impact of forest weed management - Authors Carol Rolando, Christine Todoroki and Michael Watt

Re-registration arbitrage by post 1989 forest owners - 27 May 2014

emily.pope@nzfoa.org.nz (Emily) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 22:07:58 +1200

Forest Owners met with Ministers Bridges and Goodhew on 19 June 2014 to discuss the industry’s position on the problems caused by the recent overnight changes to the ETS regulations. This position was detailed in this letter to Ministers Groser and Goodhew dated 27 May 2014 . While there was no commitment by the Ministers to any amendments, there was agreement that officials will prepare further advice for the Ministers to consider.