Trees, forests and using wood products are some of the best immediate responses to climate change.

Water can be available from planted forest catchments even in the driest parts of New Zealand. Forests have the potential to release water during dry periods and regulate stream flow during storms and floods.

Summary data of key indicators from FSC Certified Forestry Companies 2019

Large, stable pieces of wood in plantation forest streams enhance in-stream habitat and biodiversity.

There are some 1.7 million hectares of planted forests in New Zealand, 90% of which are in radiata pine. The mix of planted forest and native ecosystems remnants that make up these forests are home to many other species, including at least 120 threatened indigenous species.

A case study following the recovery of a recently harvested headwater riparian and stream ecosysystem after extreme rain, flooding, and debris flows.

There are some 1.7 million hectares of planted forests in New Zealand, and about a third of these are on erodible steepland terrain. Many of these forests were originally planted as erosion control forests and are now being harvested. There is increasing concern and media attention about the environmental effects of steepland planted forestry. These centre on the post-harvest landscape response, including the increasing occurrence of woody debris in rivers and on beaches following intense rainstorms that generate landslides,and debris flows that entrain wood and sediment.

Supersedes May 2016 version

There are some 1.7 million hectares of planted forests in New Zealand, 90% of which are in radiata pine. These forests contain an estimated 24,220 km of streams that, for most of the forest growing cycle, provide a source of high quality water to downstream users. There is increasing pressure on our water resources. However, with prudent stewardship and ongoing improvements to management practices, New Zealand’s forests will continue to
provide sustainable sources of high quality water.

Supersedes May 2016 version

Planted forest soils provide many benefits including growing timber and fibre, cleaning water through filtering, and regulating flooding by storing water. New Zealand has a wide diversity of soil types. They are generally young and naturally acidic with low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur. Planted forests are typically on low fertility or steep terrain land that is not suitable for agriculture. Best management practices and ongoing improvements are needed for planted forest soils to continue to provide multiple benefits to New Zealanders. This includes maintaining fertility in a low nutrient input production system, especially as many of New Zealand’s planted forest soils are now supporting their third rotation There are also challenges in reducing soil loss through erosion in steep, erodible country, particularly during harvest.

Radiata pine forests in New Zealand produce large clouds of pollen every spring. 

New Zealand’s around 1.7 million hectares of planted forests contribute an export return of more than $5 billion per year from wood and fibre based products. A large amount of lumber is also used locally. Our forests are increasingly being recognised for the other products, services and benefits they can provide over and above wood, fibre and fuel. Together, these benefits are called ecosystem services and are worth far more in total than the
wood, fibre and fuel alone.