How afforestation could change wildfire hazard and risk – the role of landscape context, forest structure and strategic management

Authors: Shana Gross, Veronica Clifford
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2025, Issue N.Z.J.For. 70(3) 2025, pp Pages 26 - 31, Nov 2025
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: Individual landowners often consider the wildfire hazard of their property. However, wildfire is a complex landscape disturbance that crosses property boundaries due to the interactions of weather, topography and fuels, and therefore requires increased collaboration and understanding across landowners. This paper summarises the 2024 Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) report on the wildfire hazard and risk from afforestation. Afforestation is broadly defined to include native and exotic reforestation and natural regeneration. The objective of this paper is to provide a high-level summary of the report, so that forestry professionals can increase their knowledge of how wildfire hazard changes over time and space and how landscape management can reduce future wildfire hazard.

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