While there is still debate on whether, when and in what form, agriculture will be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), there is now no doubt as to the benefits to be gained in appropriate tree plantings or retiring certain land areas on a long-term basis to offset possible future emission liabilities.
We recently held a very successful Carbon Forestry Field Day on one of our client's farms in association with the Hawke's Bay Regional Council. We heard from expert speakers from Te Uru Rakau Forestry New Zealand, Beef+Lamb New Zealand, Woodnet and Carbon Forestry Services. What stood out was the widespread lack of real understanding as to what opportunities exist to earn carbon credits and what these may mean.
There are several carbon forestry options ranging from pine trees (which everyone generally understood) to poplars and willows (which were planted widely on the farm in question) to native tree plantings. While there are minimum canopy covers, spacing and height requirements to earn carbon credits, the field day certainly highlighted the ability with poplars, for instance, to earn carbon credits and still retain grazable and/or croppable land.
The idea of a Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) was also canvassed. A PFSI allows landowners to receive continuing carbon units through the creation of permanent forests (established after 1990) and can include indigenous forests.
This obviously ties in with soil conservation, farming sustainability and how plantings can offset carbon dioxide (from using fossil fuels), nitrous oxide (conversion of fertiliser, dung and urine in soil), and methane emissions (from cattle) on farm to achieve a carbon neutral status.
