Media statement
For immediate release
Thursday, 28 February 2008

Dunne on Flexible Land Use Alliance

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has indicated support for the positive intentions of the Flexible Land Use Alliance, which was launched in Wellington today.

“I welcome the formation of the Flexible Land Use Alliance,” said Mr Dunne. “I believe this group’s proposals are positive in their intentions and provide valuable solutions to the long-term workability of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

“The retrospective liabilities imposed by the ETS on pre-1990 forest owners could have the effect of locking up 1.2 million hectares in forestry forever, whether that is the best use for that land or not.

“For pre-1990 investors to be lumbered with such liabilities hardly sparks confidence with investors today, which accounts for the net deforestation currently being experienced in New Zealand.

“The Forestry Offset Scheme put forward by the Alliance will be fairer to landowners who wish to convert their land by providing some means of compensation while encouraging the planting of 800 000 or so hectares of erodible land that is currently not in forestry but realistically should be.

“The Alliance’s proposal has the capacity to reignite investor confidence, increase the amount of forested land in New Zealand and thus expand our capacity for carbon sequestration.

“UnitedFuture maintains the view that Government needs to work closely with all industries to meet our climate change obligations, which is why I am pleased to work with the Flexible Land Use Alliance in developing solutions for the forestry sector,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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