Forests

Back to the forest canopy

01. Cleaning the air

Forests purify our air by absorbing CO2 and releasing clean oxygen, making them vital for fighting climate change.

01. Cleaning the air

Forests purify our air by absorbing CO2 and releasing clean oxygen, making them vital for fighting climate change.

01. Cleaning the air

Forests purify our air by absorbing CO2 and releasing clean oxygen, making them vital for fighting climate change.

01. Cleaning the air

Forests purify our air by absorbing CO2 and releasing clean oxygen, making them vital for fighting climate change.

Over 50%

OF NEW ZEALAND’S YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS IS SEQUESTERED (CAPTURED) BY OUR PRODUCTION FORESTS

Over 50%

OF NEW ZEALAND’S YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS IS SEQUESTERED (CAPTURED) BY OUR PRODUCTION FORESTS

Over 50%

OF NEW ZEALAND’S YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS IS SEQUESTERED (CAPTURED) BY OUR PRODUCTION FORESTS

02. Nature Lives Here

You’ll find a variety of wildlife including kiwi, birds, bats and even mushrooms making the most of our forests.

02. Nature Lives Here

You’ll find a variety of wildlife including kiwi, birds, bats and even mushrooms making the most of our forests.

02. Nature Lives Here

You’ll find a variety of wildlife including kiwi, birds, bats and even mushrooms making the most of our forests.

02. Nature Lives Here

You’ll find a variety of wildlife including kiwi, birds, bats and even mushrooms making the most of our forests.

KĀREAREA (NEW ZEALAND FALCON)

KIWI

WHIO (BLUE DUCK)

PEKAPEKA (NATIVE BATS)

KĀREAREA (NEW ZEALAND FALCON)

KIWI

WHIO (BLUE DUCK)

PEKAPEKA (NATIVE BATS)

KĀREAREA (NEW ZEALAND FALCON)

KIWI

WHIO (BLUE DUCK)

PEKAPEKA (NATIVE BATS)

From the outside it can be hard to see what goes on in a forest. Take a closer look however, and you’ll find jobs, wildlife, fresh waterways, exports, materials to make homes and much more. So come in and see why we’re committed to helping them grow.

From the outside it can be hard to see what goes on in a forest. Take a closer look however, and you’ll find jobs, wildlife, fresh waterways, exports, materials to make homes and much more. Come discover why we’re committed to helping them grow.

Discover what's inside a production forest.

03. Beyond farms

Forests can diversify and balance land use. Integrating forestry with traditional farming reduces emissions, enhances biodiversity, and sequesters carbon.

03. Beyond farms

Forests can diversify and balance land use. Integrating forestry with traditional farming reduces emissions, enhances biodiversity, and sequesters carbon.

03. Beyond farms

Forests can diversify and balance land use. Integrating forestry with traditional farming reduces emissions, enhances biodiversity, and sequesters carbon.

03. Beyond farms

Forests can diversify and balance land use. Integrating forestry with traditional farming reduces emissions, enhances biodiversity, and sequesters carbon.

$700,000

POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VALUE PER 1000 HECTARES WHEN COMBINING FORESTRY WITH SHEEP OR BEEF FARMING.

$700,000

POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VALUE PER 1000 HECTARES WHEN COMBINING FORESTRY WITH SHEEP OR BEEF FARMING.

$700,000

POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VALUE PER 1000 HECTARES WHEN COMBINING FORESTRY WITH SHEEP OR BEEF FARMING.

04. Job generator

A diverse workforce of 40,000 are employed by the industry – from planting to timber processing – boosting rural communities and the economy.

04. Job generator

A diverse workforce of 40,000 are employed by the industry – from planting to timber processing – boosting rural communities and the economy.

04. Job generator

A diverse workforce of 40,000 are employed by the industry – from planting to timber processing – boosting rural communities and the economy.

44%

OF OUR WORKFORCE IS MĀORI

44%

OF OUR WORKFORCE IS MĀORI

05. Growth Economy

Forestry is New Zealand’s fourth-largest export earner, contributing billions to the economy every year.

05. Growth Economy

Forestry is New Zealand’s fourth-largest export earner, contributing billions to the economy every year.

05. Growth Economy

Forestry is New Zealand’s fourth-largest export earner, contributing billions to the economy every year.

$6.62 billion

EXPORT VALUE EXPECTED TO BE GENERATED BY FORESTRY BY JUNE 2028

$6.62 billion

EXPORT VALUE EXPECTED TO BE GENERATED BY FORESTRY BY JUNE 2028

06. Wood you believe?

Wood products go beyond timber for houses and featuring in over 5,000 everyday items — from paper to toothpaste and even touchscreens.

06. Wood you believe?

Wood products go beyond timber for houses and featuring in over 5,000 everyday items — from paper to toothpaste and even touchscreens.

06. Wood you believe?

Wood products go beyond timber for houses and featuring in over 5,000 everyday items — from paper to toothpaste and even touchscreens.

Ice-cream

GETS ITS SMOOTH TEXTURE FROM WOOD FIBRE (CELLULOSE)

Ice-cream

GETS ITS SMOOTH TEXTURE FROM WOOD FIBRE (CELLULOSE)

Ice-cream

GETS ITS SMOOTH TEXTURE FROM WOOD FIBRE (CELLULOSE)

07. Māori and forestry

The role of Māori, who own 48% of our commercial forests, is increasingly important. Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) over natural resources places responsibility for these taonga (treasures) with Māori.

07. Māori and forestry

$10 billion

ESIMATED ADDED TO THE NZ ECONOMY FROM THE NATIONAL MĀORI FORESTRY STRATEGY.

$10 billion

ESIMATED ADDED TO THE NZ ECONOMY FROM THE NATIONAL MĀORI FORESTRY STRATEGY.

08. Managing the environment

These are just some of the ways the sector cares for the environment throughout all stages of a production forest’s life and harvest cycle.

08. Managing the environment

These are just some of the ways the sector cares for the environment throughout all stages of a production forest’s life and harvest cycle.

08. Managing the environment

These are just some of the ways the sector cares for the environment throughout all stages of a production forest’s life and harvest cycle.

LAWS & STANDARDS

NATIVE RESERVES

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

GREEN CONSTRUCTION

PEST MANAGEMENT

KAREAREA (NEW ZEALAND FALCON)

KIWI

WHIO (BLUE DUCK)

PEKAPEKA (NATIVE BATS)

09. A way with water

With 24,000 kilometers of waterways, our forests help moderate peak flows, mitigate erosion, reduce run-off and absorb waste. Studies show that pine creates cleaner lakes, rivers and beaches

09. A way with water

With 24,000 kilometers of waterways, our forests help moderate peak flows, mitigate erosion, reduce run-off and absorb waste. Studies show that pine creates cleaner lakes, rivers and beaches

09. A way with water

With 24,000 kilometers of waterways, our forests help moderate peak flows, mitigate erosion, reduce run-off and absorb waste. Studies show that pine creates cleaner lakes, rivers and beaches

Less contamination

LESS NITROGEN AND E.COLI IN WATER COMPARED TO OTHER LAND USES

Less contamination

LESS NITROGEN AND E.COLI IN WATER COMPARED TO OTHER LAND USES

11. Fueling the future

Leftovers after harvest can now be compressed into biomass fuel for heating and energy. These wood pellets offer a sustainable way to stay cosy.

11. Fueling the future

Leftovers after harvest can now be compressed into biomass fuel for heating and energy. These wood pellets offer a sustainable way to stay cosy.

11. Fueling the future

Leftovers after harvest can now be compressed into biomass fuel for heating and energy. These wood pellets offer a sustainable way to stay cosy.

Less coal

SEVERAL MAJOR NZ DAIRY PROCESSORS ARE MOVING TO HEAT THEIR MILK DRIERS WITH WOOD CHIPS RATHER THAN COAL.

Less coal

SEVERAL MAJOR NZ DAIRY PROCESSORS ARE MOVING TO HEAT THEIR MILK DRIERS WITH WOOD CHIPS RATHER THAN COAL.

Less coal

SEVERAL MAJOR NZ DAIRY PROCESSORS ARE MOVING TO HEAT THEIR MILK DRIERS WITH WOOD CHIPS RATHER THAN COAL.

Where next?

Our forests are a unique, sustainable investment in New Zealand’s future. By caring for them today, we ensure they continue to look after us tomorrow.

Forests not only produce timber for homes and other everyday items we need, they also help clean the air, provide jobs for local communities and support a stronger economy. They are an essential resource that will sustain our way of life for generations to come.

Forest Owners Association