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Graham West's comment





Are we at a tipping point in forestry politics? Typically, small scale urban investors, farmers, and Iwi have been taking investment risk without good representation or support. Already there are 12-14,000 of them, about 30 percent of the total plantation area. If a further 500,000ha of trees are to be planted, it is more than likely that only this group will have the land to make the programme happen. When they plant, the balance between small and corporate forest owners will come closer to 50:50. A tipping point will have been reached. Small scale forest interests will demand to be better looked after by government, Forest Growers Levy Trust, Forest Owners Association and MPI. It is small scale forest investors that will hold the key to realising the social, environmental, and economic goals the government seeks; let’s ensure they get the support they need.