More Information
as judged by your Piers
Authors: Piers MaclarenPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2007, Issue N.Z.J.For. 52(1) 2007, pp 48, May 2007
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: [First paragraph...]
So the Government wants more trees? Less deforestation? Their strategy: pathetic incentives for the former and draconian sector-crippling disincentives for the latter. But during the 1990s, we willingly planted over 57,000 hectares of land per year and deforestation was unknown. Back then, Government did not need to use either carrots or sticks. So what has changed? Can we learn from history: why were the public so unimpressed with forestry in 1991 (new-land planting rate of just over 15,000 ha/yr) but so enamoured with it just three years later (new-land planting rate peaking in 1994 at 98,200 ha), and totally turned off in recent years? Ask any eight foresters these questions and you will get nine answers, all of them subjective and some clearly wrong. But the Government and Industry just yawned: “Planting rates are fine - why would we want to know this stuff?”