Forestry and the ETS

ETS details for forestry are more advanced than other sectors due to work undertaken for the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI). The PFSI was developed as a separate Kyoto afforestation programme prior to the ETS being established.

Under the ETS there are two types of forest; those existing before 1990, called pre Kyoto forests, and those established after 1989, called Kyoto Forests.

Opportunities for emission credits exist under the ETS for Kyoto forests (post 1989).

Pre-1990 Forests

Allocation Plan

Owners of pre-1990 forest land were entitled to an allocation of credits as partial compensation for the deforestation rules. Applications for this allocation closed in November 2011.

Deforestation

As of the 1st of January 2008, owners of pre-1990 forests who deforest the land and turn it into an alternative land use (e.g. agriculture) will be liable for a deforestation penalty. This penalty will be in the form of paying back to the Government the number of emission units (NZUs) equivalent to what was stored in the forest. ETS information on forestry shows that on average there will be 800 NZUs per hectare allocated for a mature pine forest.

Exemptions

There are a few exceptions to the deforestation penalty, these include:

• Any areas cleared under 2 hectares will be exempt.
• Third party deforestation, eg line companies. Where deforestation is imposed by third party the deforestation liability is transferred to that party.

Kyoto Forests (after 1989)

Unlike other sectors, participation in the ETS for forestry is voluntary for Kyoto Forests.

Under the ETS there are several options for forest owners who establish Kyoto Forests, these are:

• Forestry under the ETS
• The Permanent Forest Sink Initiative
• Afforestation Grant Scheme
• East Coast Forestry Project

Forestry under the ETS

Forestry under the ETS is not restricted by species or harvesting regime.

There is no covenant on the land title.

Harvesting incurs an emission liability which has to be accounted for during the emission accounting period in which they occur.

Forestry was brought into the ETS on 1 January 2008. The first accounting period was from 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2008. Carbon stocks can be assessed either annually or every five years.

All costs of direct administration will be recovered from landowners of forests.

Permanent Forest Sink Initiative

The point of difference under the PFSI is the “higher” standards required (such as continuous cover harvesting), and a covenant with the crown being registered on the title of the land binding all future land owners. Under the PFSI there will be a guaranteed allocation of AAUs and the option to opt out after 50 years, provided that all claimed credits are repaid to the crown. Changes to the PFSI mean all qualifying forests (exotic and indigenous) are eligible to enter the program from 1990. For more information on the PFSI click here.

Afforestation Grant Scheme

An Afforestation Grant Scheme will be available to landowners who wish to establish a forest on Kyoto compliant land but do not wish to join the ETS. This will be a tender process which may assist the afforestation of plantation forests, planted indigenous forests or natural reversion. Under this programme the Government will retain all NZUs generated by the new forest for 10 years after planting and will also cover all liabilities. This will mean that landowners will get assistance for establishing a forest and they will be able to harvest and change land use without penalty.

For more information on the Afforestation Grant Scheme, please click here.

East Coast Forestry Project

The East Coast Forestry Project (ECFP) will continue as an independent erosion control program. If a landowner receives an ECFP grant and chooses to enter the PFSI the ECFP grant remains the same. However, if a landowner wishes to participate in the ETS their ECFP grant is likely to be reduced. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has explained that as the ETS doesn’t have the harvesting restrictions of the PFSI and landowners may realise income from the harvested timber. For more information on the East Coast Forestry Project please click here.

A landowner will not be able to claim the ECFP and the AGS grants on the same forest.

Please see info sheets here to learn more about forestry and the ETS and how to apply to be a participant in the ETS.