20 September 2004

Help with forest replanting following February floods

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is calling for applications for assistance from farmers and foresters whose forest stands were damaged by February’s lower North Island floods.

Earlier this month, following a request from representatives of the forest industry and regional authorities, the Government allocated an additional $3.36 million under the Agricultural Recovery Programme to clean up and reinstate forestry areas destroyed in the storm.

Of that funding, $1 million is allocated to forestry-related remedial clean up work and $2.36 million is set aside for the replanting of destroyed forest areas.

The additional assistance being provided will be essentially governed by the same criteria that apply to other forms of assistance under the Agricultural Recovery Programme.

These include the affected forests being within the specific District Council boundaries of South Taranaki, Wanganui, Ruapehu, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Kapiti, Central Hawkes Bay, Tararua, Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa.

Foresters will need to have been significantly affected by the storm between 15 and 18 February this year, and they must earn 51 percent of their gross income from farming, cropping, vegetable growing, forestry activities or any combination thereof.

“These criteria represent guidelines, and where any farmer/forester has doubts, they should still apply,” says David Rhodes, manager within MAF’s Policy Information and Regions Group.

“Because of the wide range of age classes involved, and the wide variation in the scale of damage, forestry assessment will be on a case by case basis and will involve site visits.”

David Rhodes explains that the criteria for forestry replanting assistance will hinge around three key factors: –

-the viability (or not) of the undamaged portions of a stand;
- the feasibility of replanting a damaged stand; and/or
- the need for (or extent of) tidying up boundaries.

The assistance will not reimburse lost income and capital costs are not covered.

An application form and full information on the criteria and how to apply for assistance is available on MAF’s website at: http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/emergency-management/2004-floods/forestry-forms/index.htm

ENDS

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