International forestry experts to gather in Rotorua

Forestry experts from all over the world will arrive in Rotorua next week. Photo / File

Forestry experts from all over the world will arrive in Rotorua next week to meet with New Zealand's forestry stakeholders.

The Tree Plantations in the Landscape event will focus on the role of tree plantations in the New Zealand economy and the resulting social and environmental impacts, building on issues raised from earlier TPL events in Brazil and Chile.

Participants will discuss new pathways to advance Māori forestry, sustainably increase forest production, and the use of planted forests as a means to mitigate climate change.

Discussions will also take place around the Government's billion tree planting initiative and optimising land use to maximise production and environmental benefits.

Event organiser, Scion principal scientist and Toi Ohomai's Sustainable Forestry chairman Dr Tim Payn, said forestry had a bright future in New Zealand but there were challenges and opportunities to be faced so the industry could reach its full potential.

"There are many stakeholders in the planted forest industry in New Zealand, and many opportunities to work together to realise the opportunities – this event is a great opportunity to learn from international planted forest experts and share our knowledge with them," he said.

At the national level the field dialogue will help strengthen a stakeholder network of key leaders from government, Māori, the forest sector, certification bodies, and the public to support policy initiatives around tree plantations in the landscape.

Findings from the New Zealand field dialogue will provide learnings to inform the design and implementation of best practices for tree plantations globally.

The event will see 60 attendees visit Rotorua and spend two days visiting planted forests in the central North Island followed by two days of dialogue.

Following the event, a summary report from the co-chairs will be published online.

Scion and Toi Ohomai are organising and sponsoring TPL which runs from October 29 to November 2. Support has also come from Te Uru Rākau and the MBIE national research programme "Growing Confidence in Forestry's Future".