NZPPI has firmly rejected any suggestion that the Government should build native plant nurseries as a means of increasing the supply of seedlings for its Native Carbon Afforestation programme.
NZPPI attended a workshop organised by Te Uru Rākau on December 6 to discuss the afforestation project and how the sector can meet the new demand for natives.The workshop was attended by about 25 native plant producers and forestry members.
This afforestation programme aims to plant native trees on approximately 300,000 hectares of land over the next 12 years. This will require a significant increase in planting from the current annual rate of 8,000 hectares to over 12,000 hectares. To meet this ambitious target, seedling production must also increase at the same rate.
NZPPI has made it clear that Government involvement in running nurseries could risk alienating those already in the industry and ultimately undermine efforts to increase production. Instead, we believe the Government should focus on setting the right policy and market incentives to attract investors in carbon forestry.
It's important to note that the Native Carbon Afforestation Programme is a key part of New Zealand's plan to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change. These native carbon forests will serve as a long-term carbon sink and will not be logged or used for timber.
Achieving the goal of planting native trees on such a large scale will require significant investment in technology, horticulture research and education to address the shortage of science and skills in the industry.
Despite these challenges, the plant production industry in New Zealand has a strong track record of success and has seen rapid growth in recent years. With the right strategy and investment, it has the capacity to significantly increase production and play a crucial role in the Native Carbon Afforestation programme.
NZPPI maintains that the Government should support the industry in these efforts, rather than getting involved in running nurseries itself.
We will hold regular Zoom sessions in the new year to update members on the programme and to connect with decision makers