James Treadwell, NZIF president, said they expected to see an even greater decline in planting in 2025.

The new emissions reduction plan, released by climate change minister Simon Watts yesterday, relies heavily on forest sequestration to meet climate targets in what the document repeatedly says is a “least-cost” net emissions approach. Experts have criticised this approach, saying the government should also aim to tackle gross emissions at their source.

Treadwell welcomed the government’s focus on emissions reduction but wanted to see a “more realistic” approach to afforestation targets and clearer guidelines on proposed restrictions.

“We are encouraged by the efforts to bring stability to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and recognise the vital role of afforestation in achieving New Zealand’s climate targets.

“Afforestation of all types plays a crucial part in our country’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we support initiatives aimed at increasing forest cover. However, we have concerns about the proposed restrictions on afforestation outlined in the discussion document. The details on how these restrictions will be implemented remain unclear, and we urge the Government to provide more transparency and clarity on this matter to ensure afforestation efforts are not hindered.”

Treadwell also called for the government to reassess its projections to make sure policy decisions are based on realistic and achievable targets. “Accurate forecasting and transparent implementation strategies are imperative to ensure we can contribute effectively to the nation’s climate objectives.”