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www.age.co.nz Thursday, August 29, 2019
– WAIRARAPA –
R�R�L
O�T�O�K – AUGUST 2019 –
F�r�e�s u�g�d t� t�k� a s�c�n� l�o� a� b�l�i�n t�e� g�a�t� While there has been a lot of debate over sheep & beef farms being converted to plantation forests in Wairarapa, one land use consultant says the situation is much more nuanced than it might appear. Stuart Orme, Manager Land Use, Carbon and Consultancy at full value chain consultancy and management company, Forest360, says while it is true that some farms have been sold in the region for conversion to plantation forestry, that has nothing to do with the government’s One Billion Trees Programme. Rather, the conversions are being driven by good commercial returns on forestry when the trees are harvested, along with additional cash fl ow from carbon credits. Stuart also points out that the majority of farms that have been sold in the lower North Island are going to new New Zealand owners, rather than overseas investors. Interest in plantation forests has not necessarily been a bad thing for the Wairarapa’s hill country farmers, Stuart says.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 PHOTO/JANICE DAGG
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