Reported 4 months ago
New Zealand's initiative to combat climate change by planting millions of trees has faced criticism for being controversial and less effective than anticipated. Following a four-year tree-planting effort, which included incentives for forestry development, a government watchdog and other organizations are calling for a radical overhaul of the program. The current system incentivizing afforestation to offset fossil fuel emissions is deemed unsustainable and may lead to a reversal of fortunes for investors in the forestry sector. The forestry boom has resulted in conflicts with the beef-and-sheep industry, increased waste, and potential long-term inefficiencies in combating CO2 emissions. The report suggests reconsidering the use of forests to offset methane emissions from livestock as a more justifiable strategy.
Source: YAHOO