Forest & Bird supports robust carbon pricing

Forest & Bird believes healthy native forests and robust carbon pricing will help New Zealand to have a zero carbon economy by 2050.

New Zealand forests store at least 2 billion tonnes of carbon. That’s 25 times the amount of greenhouse gas New Zealand emits each year.

Forest & Bird says it's always supported a robust price on carbon that includes agriculture just like any other industry in New Zealand.

They say our forests are an incredible resource. By getting rid of pests like possums and deer, which are destroying our forests, we could increase the amount of carbon being stored both in our trees and in the forest soils. Healthy native forests and their soils are also our best protection against some of the impacts of climate change.

Forest & Bird believes by slowing the movement of water across the land, and soaking up greater amounts of water before it runs off, forests and their soils help reduce peak flood levels, and support river flows in periods of drought.