National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry
New
Zealand Farm Forestry Association
P O Box 1122,
Wellington
Phone 04 472 0432
Fax 04 473 6904
24 September 2010
National
Environmental Standard (NES) for Plantation Forestry
The
Government is proposing a National Environmental Standard (as
regulations under the Resource Management Act 1991) for plantation
forestry. The
intent is to improve national consistency in local authority plan
rules relating to plantation forestry and certainty for those
involved in the management of plantation forests.
The
draft standard has been developed by the Ministry for the Environment
in consultation with the NZ Forest Owners’ Association and is now
open for consultation which closes on 18
October 2010.
For
more comprehensive information about the proposed NES go to:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/laws/standards/forestry/index.html
This proposal for a national
environmental standard:
covers the
activity status and conditions that might apply to eight plantation
forestry activities (afforestation, replanting, mechanical land
preparation, harvesting, pruning and thinning to waste, earthworks,
quarrying and river crossings)
does not cover
some associated forestry activities (eg. agrichemical use, milling,
and processing of timber)
allows local
authorities to retain control over how local natural and physical
resources are managed in some circumstances
proposes an
erosion susceptibility classification system for determining the
activity status for some plantation forestry activities.
The
standard would require all local authorities to give effect to and
enforce its requirements.
To
read more about the proposed national environmental standard and the
process of developing it, go to the MfE website www.mfe.govt.nz
or follow these links:
Hard
copies of the NES may be requested from the MfE website or from MfE,
P O Box 10362, Wellington 6143.
Submissions
The public submissions process
is now open - opportunities for comment after the submission process
may be very limited. Please include the following information with
your submission:
your name and
postal address, phone number, and e-mail address (where applicable)
the title of the
proposed standard you are making the submission about
whether you
support or oppose the standard
your submission,
with reasons for your views
any changes you
would like made to the standard
the decision
you wish the Minister for the Environment to make.
Forward
your submission to the Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10-362,
Wellington 6143, or by e-mail to standards@mfe.govt.nz,
in time to be received no later than 5.00 pm Monday 18 October 2010.
Note: Your submission and any attached information (including your
name but excluding your contact details) may be published on the MfE
website and may be required to be disclosed in response to any
requests under the Official Information Act 1982.
Pilot study:
online discussion forum with data
The
Department of Internal Affairs, with the support of the Ministry for
the Environment, is running an engagement pilot study at online
discussion forum
(MfE website) in parallel with the formal consultation on the NES.
Data and images that are relevant to the question will be provided to
supplement the discussion.
