Using science to inform the place of forestry in the landscape

Authors: Kit Richards
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2013, Issue N.Z.J.For. 58(2) 2013, pp 7-15, Aug 2013
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: In this paper, a brief review of the past history of commercial plantation establishment is compared with the situation now. It is suggested that barriers to strengthening the industry relate to domestic structural economics and public and political comprehension not just biological or technical productivity. A case is made that - • New Zealand has 10 million hectares of economically underperforming rural land • Returns on capital from plantation forests are on average higher than for much of our pastoral land. In terms of contribution to GDP, forestry per million hectares occupied has been producing between 161 per cent and 231 per cent that of pastoral agriculture • Expansion in deployment of private capital in commercial plantation forestry is very much constrained by matters of public policy

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