Hon Dr Nick Smith MP
National Party Climate Change Spokesperson

14 September 2007

Wood promo no substitute for carbon credits

The Government needs to do much more than run a promotional campaign on the merits of wood to reverse the massive deforestation taking place, says National's Climate Change spokesman, Nick Smith.

He is responding to Forestry Minister Jim Anderton's statement 'Wood a Wonder Material'.

"Again the Government is reverting to spin over substance in its approach to climate change.

"There is little use publicising the carbon capturing benefits of timber while denying foresters their carbon credits.

"This Government has overseen a chainsaw massacre with the loss of 40,000 hectares, or 32 million trees, over the past three years.

"This is the first net deforestation to occur since records began in 1951.

"The Labour Government's decision to deny Kyoto forest owners the carbon credits of their trees is killing confidence in the sector.

"Spending $3.2 million of taxpayers' money promoting wood as a wonder material is no substitute for fixing the substantive issue over carbon credits.

"The key to restoring confidence in the forest sector is in ensuring foresters get the commercial gain from planting trees.

"National will change this policy and ensure foresters command benefit from the carbon capture of the trees they plant."

ENDS

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