Forestry reform proposals won't address slash emergency

Abstract

Pine forestry is an important economic industry in regional New Zealand. It contributes approximately $6 billion to the national economy annually, and employs about 42,000 people. However, its large-scale clear-cut harvesting and earthworks practices on steep erosion-prone hill country have contributed to catastrophic downstream damage after cyclones and atmospheric rivers in Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Coromandel, Marlborough, Nelson, and Tasman since 2010. The coalition Government aims to restore public confidence in the industry with its recently announced package of resource management reforms. However, its policy initiatives for changing the national forestry standards will likely do the reverse.