The ETS rules made it “almost impossible to register naturally regenerating land”, they wrote. “Even where there are vast areas of regeneration, in the best cases, landowners have been able to register only a few hectares after expensive, intensive and back-breaking work,” wrote Thompson and representatives of the Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury, lines company Orion, Landcare Research, Hinewai Reserve, Di Lucas of Lucas Associates and others.
ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff
The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust wants to regenerate native forest on gorse-covered farmland. “It is depressing and farcical to see so much carbon being sequestered in regenerating native forest, with all the biodiversity benefits this brings, being rejected by the Emissions Trading System in favour of pine blocks,” they submitted.