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Forestry Minister Shane Jones has the green light to start the Government’s programme to plant a billion trees.
Cabinet has agreed to let Crown Forestry enter into new commercial arrangements to plant on privately-owned land.
It's also providing $14 million to support next year's planting of trees and buy seedlings for 2019.
Mr Jones says the 10-year programme is one of the Government’s cornerstone policies which will encourage regional economic growth, create sustainable, high-quality jobs, provide opportunities for Maori to develop their land, help meet New Zealand's climate change targets and support more sustainable use of land, water and other natural resources.
Quick action was needed to ensure Crown Forestry can purchase seedlings from nursery stock and get planting during the winter season.
There are only limited surplus radiata pine seedlings available for 2018 but Forest Nursery Growers Association members say nurseries can scale up significantly for the 2019 planting season.
Work is also being done to boost the number of native trees planted.
Changes are also being considered to the Emissions Trading Scheme to incentivise land use for forestry and afforestation.
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