The NZ Institute of Forestry (NZIF) welcomes the Government’s intention to investigate the management of forestry land
use in the East Coast. However President James Treadwell says “we are concerned the terms of reference for this inquiry
are too narrow and the time frame too short to find long term solutions to the impacts of storm events in this region.
The issues are challenging and complex and extend beyond just forestry. We strongly advocate this inquiry be widened to
include all land use in the region from the mountain tops to the sea.”
“The goal of the review must be how to mitigate the downstream effects of land use, to help build climate resilience and
avoid the catastrophic impacts of extreme weather events associated with climate change such as caused by Cyclone
Gabrielle. This should include a review of decisions by councils on where to allow buildings and infrastructure to be
built” says Treadwell
The NZIF is deeply concerned at the downstream impacts caused by current land use practices, including commercial
forestry and pastoral farming. These impacts have been exacerbated by the increasing frequency and intensity of storm
events caused by climate change. Science based solutions are needed to mitigate these impacts and the Institute fully
supports an enquiry into land use in erosion-prone catchments in the East Coast region, with a focus on increasing
climate resilience.
The environmental benefits of forest cover, exotic as well as indigenous, in reducing soil erosion were very evident
following Cyclone Bola in 1988. As a result the Government introduced the East Coast Forestry Scheme in 1992 to help
encourage further afforestation. Treadwell says “due to the intensity of these storm events and the highly erodible
geography of the East Coast, it will be impossible to stop all erosion and movement of woody debris downstream -
regardless of species and forest management, we have seen large areas slip into rivers taking everything growing on it
with it, be it native trees, exotic trees or grass”.
From a forestry perspective the NZIF considers the inquiry should investigate which forests are most at risk and what
changes are needed to protect downstream infrastructure like roads and bridges, homes and communities, other land uses
and livelihoods and to protect our threatened environments. In highly sensitive areas existing harvesting practices may
no longer be appropriate and changes to forestry regimes and harvesting practices may be the only options. Species
suitability and the restoration of permanent indigenous forest cover should be included in the review.
“It is time we stop looking for scapegoats and started having a full and frank discussion on the causes of sedimentation
and wood debris and plan solutions to mitigate downstream effects of these storms to ensure no one else is killed by
future events.” says Treadwell