Future environmental challenges and New Zealand’s planted forests

Authors: Tim Payn
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2018, Issue N.Z.J.For. 63(2) 2018, pp 14-20, Aug 2018
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: Environmental issues are becoming increasingly important globally and nationally. Through a survey of New Zealand forestry professionals, in particular members of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF), I identified current and emerging environmental challenges facing forest growers. Current and emerging physical challenges focused on harvesting and water, climate impacts, biosecurity and biodiversity. Challenges in the human environment were identified as perceptions of forestry and the social licence to operate (SLO), environmental regulation and policy, workforce and health and safety (H&S), climate policy and carbon forests, and the integration of forestry into landscapes. Future projections suggest a tighter regulatory environment and increasing public scrutiny and the challenge to forestry’s SLO. To maintain a resilient, publicly acceptable and sustainable sector growers will need to continue to improve environmental management practices, invest in research to assist this, and improve knowledge and information flows with the wider community on environmental management.

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