Harvest

6 September 2007

Early analysis of the forestry and logging sectors indicates they have a largely positive environmental footprint.

A large amount of land is directly used to grow plantation forests. However, forests contribute to the surrounding environment by providing a habitat for different species of birds and animals, stabilising soil and absorbing carbon dioxide.

Additional water use in the forestry and logging sector is small, as regular rainfall provides the water necessary to ensure the growth of the forests.

Because road transport services are required to move logs from forests, carbon dioxide emissions from diesel fuel occur. However, these emissions do not compare to the amount of carbon dioxide forests in New Zealand have absorbed. In 1998 the estimated net total absorption of carbon dioxide by plantation forests was 17 million tonnes.