Climate change, sustainable land management and forestry: Towards a government policy

Authors: Honorable Jim Anderton
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2006, Issue N.Z.J.For. 51(4) 2007, pp 32-34, Jan 2007
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: [First paragraphs...]
Climate change has serious implications for where we live, how we live, how we earn our living, and for many aspects of New Zealand’s bio-physical environment.

New Zealand’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing is inextricably tied to the sustainable management of our land. Our land based industries of agriculture, horticulture and forestry represent over 60% of everything we earn as a nation. This economic base is under threat. Climate change is quite probably the greatest long-term threat facing our biologically-based and export-orientated economy.

Increasing frequency and severity of adverse weather events, such as droughts, floods and storms will make farming and forestry in New Zealand harder and more costly.

Our fragile hill country, which is prone to erosion and exposed to the weather, is probably most threatened. As a result many communities in lower catchments are also at risk. Recent storm and flooding events in the Southern North Island, Bay of Plenty and on the East Coast have given us an insight into what a future with a more variable climate might mean for New Zealand.

The storage, distribution, and allocation of water will also become increasingly important as droughts become more frequent and intense.

Forestry has an important role to play in helping address climate change; over the next two months there will be widespread consultation on how best to work together to find long-term solutions. The debate will be lively and, at times, controversial but the feedback from the industry will be critical in the development of a preferred policy package.

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