Native regeneration scheme targets greenhouse gases

Government science company Landcare Research says it will launch a scheme this week to offset greenhouse gas emissions with native forest regeneration.

Planting and maintenance of indigenous forest to offset greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide was proposed last year by Landcare chief executive Andy Pearce.

On Wednesday, Science Minister Pete Hodgson, who chairs the cabinet taskforce on climate change, will launch Landcare's Emission/Biodiversity Exchange in Wellington.

The not-for-profit project will encourage indigenous plantings to "soak up" carbon dioxide emissions.

It plans to partner businesses and other organisations to raise awareness of their greenhouse gas emissions, and to trigger investment in planting native forest.

The project's executive officer, Ian Turney, said that restoring native forests was seen as the best way of locking up some greenhouse gases.

At the same time, it helped to replace lost biological diversity, stabilise riverbanks, reduce pollution, cool the air in cities and enhance landscapes.

Landcare Research is discussing making the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust a national partner in the exchange.

The trust helps landowners, such as farmers, who want to covenant and fence ecologically valuable sites to protect them from destruction by future landowners.

Other partners are also being recruited to supply land that has been legally protected in perpetuity, manage restored sites, supply seedlings, fencing, staff training or to help with energy audits and monitoring of carbon and biodiversity gains.

Sponsors are sought to help finance native tree planting and will receive audited reports of their carbon emissions.

The sponsors and partner organisations will also be able to use the system to contribute to greater local employment, training, and new technologies.

On Wednesday, the exchange's first greenhouse gas offset certificate will be presented to the Tourist Industry Association.

- NZPA

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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

United Nations Environment Program

World Meteorological Organisation

Framework Convention on Climate Change

Executive summary: Climate change impacts on NZ

IPCC Summary: Climate Change 2001