How big is the forest in New Zealand?
The total planted forest standing volume was estimated to be 501 million cubic metres with an average forest standing age (area weighted) of 18.3 years. The revised new planting estimate for the year ending 31 December 2019 is 19,000 hectares. Radiata pine is the dominant species in New Zealand.
How many beech trees are there in New Zealand?
Nearly 2 million HA of the forests in New Zealand have almost only Beech trees. Beech forest tends to grow mainly on the drier, eastern side of the mountains, higher up, and in the cooler south. This forest has little undergrowth because the thick evergreen canopy prevents much light from penetrating to the forest floor.
How much of New Zealand's forest is plantation?
Mass plantings of exotic species in the 1920s, 30s and 60s created a robust forestry industry that supplied all New Zealand's domestic timber needs and secured the future of the remaining native forest. Today, New Zealand has a total of 10.1 million hectares of forests, covering 38% of the land. 2.1 million hectares are plantation forest.
What makes New Zealand’s forest ecosystems unique?
New Zealand’s land mass is home to some unique forest ecosystems; including kauri forests, kahikatea swamp forests, pōhutukawa forests and mixed broadleaved forests. These support a diverse array of flora and fauna that evolved in the almost complete absence of land mammals. Most of New Zealand’s indigenous land birds inhabit forest or shrub land.
What forests are there in New Zealand?
New Zealand's land mass is home to some unique forest ecosystems; including kauri forests, kahikatea swamp forests, pōhutukawa forests and mixed broadleaved forests. These support a diverse array of flora and fauna that evolved in the almost complete absence of land mammals.
Is 50% of New Zealand a forest?
Forests in New Zealand are best described in two groups - natural forest, and planted forest. Natural forest covers 6.4 million hectares (24% of the land area), and planted forest covers 1.5 million hectares (5% of land area)....NEW ZEALAND.Industry% Total ExportsForest Products13Meat13Wool51 more row
How much of NZ is deforested?
From 2001 to 2021, New Zealand lost 1.36Mha of tree cover, equivalent to a 12% decrease in tree cover since 2000.
What percentage of New Zealand is native forest?
Forests. Native forests and shrublands cover approximately 9 million hectares of land in New Zealand, roughly 33% of total land area.
Did Māori burn forests?
Māori use of fire When Māori first settled in New Zealand, around 1250–1300 AD, most of the land was covered in forest. They burned large areas, to make hunting birds such as moa easier.
How many trees are in NZ?
The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network has published a list of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants including all 574 native trees and shrubs.
Who owns the forests in NZ?
The Crown owns most native forests. Through the Department of Conservation, it manages about 5.2 million hectares of New Zealand's tall indigenous forests for the conservation of biodiversity, heritage, and recreation.
What did New Zealand look like before humans?
Before people arrived, New Zealand was a land of birds. Night and day the forests were alive with rustlings, calls, booms, whistles and hoots. There were over 120 species of geese, ducks, rails, moa, parrots, owls, wrens and other perching birds. Around 70 of these were found only in New Zealand.
Is deforestation legal in New Zealand?
Deforestation in New Zealand has been a contentious environmental issue in the past, but native forests (colloquially called "the bush") now have legal protection, and are not allowed to be tampered with by humans.
How old is the NZ forest?
New Zealand's 180-million-year-old forest - BBC Travel.
What is the most famous forest?
Get closer to nature with our round up of the most beautiful forests in the world.1) Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica. ... 2) Daintree Rainforest, Australia. ... 3) Amazon Rainforest, Latin America. ... 4) Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda. ... 5) Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan. ... 6) Trossachs National Park, Scotland.More items...
How many trees are planted each year in NZ?
"One billion trees is 100 million trees a year and half of that is replanting. So 50 million a year is business as usual and another 50 million is new planting.
Is NZ a rainforest?
Te Urewera is the largest rainforest of New Zealand's North Island, spanning 2,127 sq km of rugged hill country, vast blue-green lakes and fast-running, north-flowing rivers.
Does NZ have any rainforests?
Rugged, immense, and intensely remote, Te Urewera is the largest rainforest on New Zealand's North Island.
Does New Zealand have deserts?
Te Onetapu, commonly known as the Rangipo Desert, is a barren desert-like environment in New Zealand, located in the Ruapehu District on the North Island Volcanic Plateau; to the east of the three active peaks of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu, and to the west of the Kaimanawa Range.
Does New Zealand have rainforests?
Temperate rainforests occur throughout New Zealand today; they are dominated in northern New Zealand by Agathis and a range of emergent podocarps, and many broadleaved taxa such as Beilschmiedia and Dysoxylum (Wardle 1991. 1991.
How much of New Zealand's GDP is forestry?
In 2018, wood products were New Zealand's third-biggest export (dairy products and meat were the larger), and forestry accounted for approximately 3% of national GDP, directly employing 20,000 people. On the global stage, the New Zealand forestry industry is a relatively small contributor in terms of production, ...
Where are plantation forests in New Zealand?
Plantation forests of various sizes can now be found in all regions of New Zealand except Central Otago and Fiordland.
What was the largest forest in the world in the 1930s?
In the 1930s, vast areas of land were planted in Pinus radiata by relief workers. The largest tract was the 188,000-hectare Kāingaroa forest , the largest plantation forest in the world.
What is the name of the tree that was logged in New Zealand?
Kauri ( Agathis australis) was extensively logged for its desirable timber. This surviving tree is called 'Te Matua Ngahere'. Forestry in New Zealand has a history starting with European settlement in the 19th century and is now an industry worth seven percent of annual revenue. Much of the original native forest cover was burnt off and logged, ...
What was the first industry in New Zealand?
Milling of New Zealand's extensive native forests was one of the earliest industries in the European settlement of the country. The long, straight hardwood from the kauri was ideal for ship masts and spars. As the new colony was established, timber was the most common building material, and vast areas of native forest were cleared.
When did deforestation end in New Zealand?
Deforestation in New Zealand on public land attracted opposition with protests and environmental groups becoming very active until it ended in 2000. Logging of native forests now only occurs on private land if it is shown to be sustainable.
Where did Monterey Pine grow?
The Monterey pine ( Pinus radiata) was introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s. It thrived in the conditions, reaching maturity in 28 years, much faster than in its native California. It was found to grow well in the infertile acidic soil of the volcanic plateau, where attempts for agriculture had failed. Thomas William Adams experimented with P. radiata and other trees in Canterbury from the 1870s, and promoted the early forestry industry. The Government initiated planting of exotic forests in 1899 at Whakarewarewa, near Rotorua. This was to address growing timber shortages as slow-growing native forests were exhausted. In the 1930s, vast areas of land were planted in Pinus radiata by relief workers. The largest tract was the 188,000-hectare Kāingaroa forest, the largest plantation forest in the world. As the major forests matured, processing industries such as the Kinleith Mill at Tokoroa and the Tasman Mill at Kawerau were established.
What are the two main types of forest in New Zealand?
New Zealand has two main types of forest across the country: beech and podocarp/broadleaf. Learn more about these two types of forest here.
What are the two types of forests?
Throughout the country there are many types of forests, but the vast majority of them are one of two kinds: podocarp/broadleaf or beech.
How long were New Zealand islands isolated?
The islands of New Zealand were isolated and without people on them for millions of years. During that time about 80% of the country was covered in forest.
Where do beech trees grow in New Zealand?
Beech forest tends to grow mainly on the drier, eastern side of the mountains, higher up, and in the cooler south.
What is a broadleaf forest?
A podocarp /broadleaf forest grows throughout the country and is similar to a tropical forest. It dominates in the northern and warmer parts of the country. As you go up the mountains or further south Beech forest takes over.
Why are forests important to New Zealand?
Forests are important for New Zealand's environment. Forests are a carbon sink. This means the trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and store it in their roots, leaves, branches, and trunks. This reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere and helps mitigate climate change. Not only do we depend on forests ...
How much does forestry contribute to New Zealand?
Forests contribute $6 billion a year to New Zealand's economy. We rely on sustainable forestry and its related wood processing industries to provide tens of thousands of jobs for New Zealanders, supporting our families and our regions. Forestry exports are worth about $6 billion a year and provide 1.6% of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Why do we depend on forests?
Not only do we depend on forests to regulate the climate, we depend on them to clean our water and our air, and help manage erosion. Our forests sustain many different species of plants and animals, including many that are found only here in New Zealand. Forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme.
What is the future of New Zealand's forests?
The future of New Zealand's forests. As the world moves away from dependence on fossil fuels towards a more sustainable, biological-based economy, forestry will become even more important as a major producer of sustainable and renewable resources for New Zealand. The role they play in our society and economy will become even more crucial.
How much is forest export worth?
Forestry exports are worth about $6 billion a year and provide 1.6% of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Forest products are New Zealand's third-largest export earner behind dairy and meat. Our main markets for forest products are China, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.
How many tourists visited the National Park in 2018?
Our native forests are popular tourist sites. For the year ended March 2018, 52% of all international tourists visited a national park, with tourists making up about 60% of all people using the Great Walks.
What are the two main types of forest in New Zealand?
The two most common forest types are conifer-broadleaved forest and beech (Nothofagus) forest.
What are the ecosystems of New Zealand?
New Zealand’s land mass is home to some unique forest ecosystems ; including kauri forests, kahikatea swamp forests, pōhutukawa forests and mixed broadleaved forests. These support a diverse array of flora and fauna that evolved in the almost complete absence of land mammals. Most of New Zealand’s indigenous land birds inhabit forest or shrub land.
What type of trees grow in Auckland?
Beech trees also grow alongside non-beech species forming mixed beech and conifer-broadleaved forests. These forests cover over 1.4 million hectares and include the hard beech-kauri forest in the Auckland area and beech-podocarp forest in the central North Island.
What are the ecosystems of indigenous forests?
Indigenous forests provide habitat for a wide diversity of invertebrates, which are a fundamental part of the forest ecosystem. Invertebrates play an important role in breaking down organic material, recycling nutrients, pollinating plants and providing food for indigenous birds, reptiles, frogs, fish and bats. There are many threatened invertebrate species living within indigenous forest habitats which rely on this biome for their survival.
How did New Zealand improve its land?
Early New Zealand landholders were required by law to improve their land, and many achieved this through burning the forest. Primary forest clearance continued into the mid-20th century, and during the 1950s increasing amounts of forest in the mountain ranges was converted to farmland or fast-growing exotic plantations. The net result of exploitation of New Zealand’s indigenous forest was the loss of approximately three-quarters of the forest, reducing it from 82 percent to 23 percent of the land surface area. 5057
How do indigenous forests store carbon?
Indigenous forests offer a significant potential for storing carbon. As the trees grow, carbon dioxide is absorbed and stored in the forests. A significant amount of carbon is also stored in the soil. Indigenous forests are a far greater carbon store than mono-culture plantation forests; compared hectare for hectare, indigenous forests store around three times as much carbon as pine forests. 5054
How many species of liverwort are there in New Zealand?
Over 900 species have been recorded growing with the four species of indigenous beech. New Zealand has more than 500 species of liverwort and 13 species of hornwort. 5046 The nationally critical liverwort Frullania wairua has to date only been found living on the twigs of a threatened rata species Metrosideros bartelettii . 5047 Large numbers of liverworts enjoy the moist conditions offered by indigenous forests.
What is the largest national park in New Zealand?
The grandeur of its scenery, with its deep fiords, its glacial lakes, its mountains and waterfalls, make it a popular tourist destination. Rakiura National Park. 1,400.
What is New Zealand's first national park?
New Zealand's first national park, recognised as one of the 27 World Heritage Sites that are of both outstanding natural and cultural value. Gifted to the Crown by Te Heuheu Tūkino IV, the park includes several sacred Māori sites and three active volcanoes, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro . Egmont National Park.
How many national parks are there in South Island?
There are currently 13 national parks; a 14th, Te Urewera National Park, was disestablished in 2014.
What is the most famous fiord in New Zealand?
Mount Tongariro in winter, Tongariro National Park. Satellite photo of Egmont National Park (the forested area) Tourist attraction Milford Sound , the most famous of the fiords in Fiordland National Park. The national parks of New Zealand are protected natural areas administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Why are national parks important?
Under the Act, national parks are to be maintained in their natural state as far as possible to retain their value as soil, water and forest conservation areas. Native plants and animals are to be preserved and introduced plants and animals removed if their presence interferes with the natural wildlife.
When did New Zealand remove mining from the Crown Minerals Act?
In 2010 the New Zealand Government proposed removing some national park and conservation areas from Schedule 4 protection of the Crown Minerals Act which prohibits mining in those areas. In July the government abandoned the proposal after receiving a large number of submissions, most of which opposed mining.
Where is Kauri National Park?
The area centred on Waipoua Forest, north of Dargaville, has been proposed as a possible Kauri National Park. The area contains most of New Zealand's remaining kauri, including the largest known kauri, Tāne Mahuta. These stands of kauri are also valuable as havens for endangered species including the North Island brown kiwi. This proposal is currently being investigated by the Department of Conservation.
Overview
Plantation forests
Plantation forests of various sizes can now be found in all regions of New Zealand except Central Otago and Fiordland. In 2006 their total area was 1.8 million hectares, with 89% in Pinus radiata and 5% in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Log harvesting in 2006 was 18.8 million m , down from 22.5 million m in 2003. This is projected to rise as high as 30 million m as newer forests m…
History
Milling of New Zealand's extensive native forests was one of the earliest industries in the European settlement of the country. The long, straight hardwood from the kauri was ideal for ship masts and spars. As the new colony was established, timber was the most common building material, and vast areas of native forest were cleared. Rimu, tōtara, matai, and miro were the favoured timbers.
Woodchipping
Softwood and hardwood wood chips are exported from New Zealand.
Legislation
• Forests Act 1949
• Forests Amendment Act 1993
See also
• Conservation in New Zealand
• Kauri Museum
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (New Zealand)
• New Zealand Arboricultural Association
External links
• Ministry for Primary Industries
• New Zealand Institute of Forestry
• NZ Wood - industry promotional website
What Are The Forests of New Zealand?
- The forests of New Zealand are some of the most diverse in the world. They contain rainforests, temperate forests, and subalpine forests. The rainforests are the most diverse and contain a wide variety of plants and animals. The temperate forests are mostly found in the north and east of the country, while the subalpine forests are found in the mountains. What is an alpine forest? An alpi…
What Is The History of New Zealand’s Native Forests?
- The forests of New Zealand date back over 100,000 years. The first inhabitants of the island were the Māori, who relied heavily on the forest for food and shelter. Over time, the forests have been chopped down to make way for farms and settlements, but they are now being restored and protected by government officials. The maori people used the wood from forests for everything …
How Much of New Zealand Is Covered by Forest?
- New Zealand has an area of 243,000 square kilometers, of which about two-thirds is covered by forest. There are three main types of forests in New Zealand: the native forest, the plantation forest, and the urban forest. The native forest covers about a quarter of the country’s total area and is made up of trees that have been around for hundreds or...
What Are Some of The Trees in New Zealand’s Native Forests?
- The forests of New Zealand are home to a wide variety of trees, including many that are not found elsewhere in the world. Some of the most common trees in New Zealand’s native forests include kauri, tawa, and mahoe. Some of the tree types date back hundreds of years, and their continued existence is thanks to the efforts of government officials and the conservation community. The …
What Is The Rainforest in New Zealand like?
- The rainforest in New Zealand is a unique environment that is home to many different types of plants and animals. The forest is full of trees, vines, and other plants that have adapted to the wet climate. The rainforest also has a high amount of humidity, which helps the plants grow. The animals in the rainforest are also very different from those in other parts of the world. The forest…