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Green Plans in Action: New Zealand: Measuring Success
Population Stabilization
As of July 2007 NZ has a population of 4,240,184, most of whom are of British origin with 15% of Maori descent, and another 6.5% Pacific Islanders. During the late 1870s, natural increase permanently replaced immigration as the chief contributor to population growth and accounted for more than 75% of population growth in the 20th century. Immigration is currently held to 45,000 per year, with a growth rate of 0.91%. It is estimated that the NZ population will peak in 2015 at around 5.5 million people. (More...)
Freshwater Quality Management
In 2003 the government identified the quality and allocation of freshwater as one of its three main sustainability issues. Since then, the government has established a strategic and nationally consistent approach to valuable freshwater resource management under a Sustainable Water Programme of Action coordinated by the Ministers for the Environment and Agriculture and Forestry. They have the support of local government, businesses, Maori, environmental groups and the public after a series of community consultation meetings around the country in 2005 with comprehensive feedback on a broad range of perspectives. Councils will continue to be the primary managers of freshwater under the RMA. The strategy focuses on three national outcomes for freshwater: improve the quality and efficient use of freshwater by building and enhancing partnerships across the board, improve management of the effects of land use on water quality, and provide for growing demands on water resources while encouraging efficient water management.
Modern Forest Plantation Industry
NZ is one of the few countries in the world that can say 98% of its commercial wood needs are met from sustainable, renewable and alternative sources by managed plantation forests. (More...#1) Since the 1920's, plantation forestry, primarily Pinus Radiata (a fast growing variation of the Monterey Pine), has taken the place of the exploitation of native forests and now covers more than 18,000sq.km, accounting for 7% of the total land mass. These forests are capable of meeting almost all of NZ's current and future timber requirements. The small amount of native timber cut is almost solely used in high quality cabinet making and veneer industries. Due to the unique geology in NZ, soils are in a constant young fertile state and single crop depletion of nutrients is not an issue. (More...) In 2004, the forestry industry contributed 3.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) and directly employed approximately 23,000 people. Indirect employment created by forestry and wood processing is estimated to account for a further 100,000 jobs. Today, NZ plantation wood is the third largest export revenue, amongst the top 20 global suppliers, and anticipated to be one of the top five by 2025. (More...#2)
Worldwide Dairy Exports
As the second leading export industry in NZ, dairy farmers are on the leading edge of farming methods and practices. In 1987 the government removed farm subsidies, forcing efficiencies on farmers. Afterward, a clear majority of farmers voted 'yes' to the Commodity Levies Act of 1990 to raise a levy from all dairy farmers. This Act provides a mechanism to fund beneficial activities to all dairy farmers, and to secure and enhance profitable and sustainable farming into the future through good industry activities with fairness, transparency and accountability. An industry-driven initiative, "The Strategic Framework for Dairy Farming's Future," was adopted in 2004 to set high level goals through strategic on-farm research, development and education with a 10-year time horizon to 2014. (More...)
Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry developed SFF to support rural communities of land-based productive sectors in achieving economic, environmental, and social sustainability. SFF aims to help land based sectors solve problems and take opportunities to overcome barriers to economic, social and environmental viability. It does this by bringing together "communities of interest," groups of people drawn together by a shared problem and/or opportunity in the sustainable use of resources. SFF focuses on projects that are practical, economically sound, and improve environmental performance. SFF has a philosophy of sharing the results and benefits of the projects as widely as possible across New Zealand's rural communities. (More...)
Reduction in Packaging Waste
The packaging industry is the leader in waste reduction. The NZ Packaging Accord 2004 has been developed in accordance with the 2002 NZ National Waste Strategy and represents a voluntary commitment of over 200 industrial organizations to reduce packaging waste. The aim is to improve packaging efficiency at all stages with a key principle being the "extended producer responsibility." This commits the originator of packaging to take more responsibility for its lifecycle from initial need, design and production to eventual recycling or disposal. Sector action plans include national targets for 2008 with recovery by weight of 65% aluminum, 55% glass, 70% paper, 43% steel, and 23% plastic. Annual reporting is available to the public for transparency during the accord's five year plan. (More...)
Permanent Forest Sinks
The Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) is subject to the RMA and provides an opportunity for landowners to establish permanent forest sinks and obtain tradable Kyoto Protocol compliant emission units in proportion to the carbon sequestered in their forests. To be eligible for this initiative the land must not have been covered in forest before 1990, and the forest must be "direct human induced through planting, seeding and/or the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources." This means some form of active management is required in establishing the forest; marginal land use areas are most often used as forest sinks. Limited harvesting that leaves a continuous canopy cover of at least 80% was established under this initiative are allowed after a period of 35 years. The PFSI applies to both exotic and indigenous tree species, and is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Indigenous Forestry Unit. (More...)
Marine Conservation Strategy
South Island's Fiordland is an important economic area with over 300,000 tourists yearly. Protection of this globally unique marine environment has been accomplished through a new local management regime. The Fiordland Marine Guardians Advisory Committee is a diverse group of knowledgeable locals including fishermen, businessmen, scientists, the Nagai Tahu (the local Maori tribe), and environmentalists. They have been appointed to act as advocates for 9,000 sq.km. covering most of Fiordland's marine ecosystem, and 370 sq.km. of inner sounds and fiords. The diligent efforts of the Fiordland Guardians have resulted in a new strategy based on one integrated program for conservation, biosecurity, fisheries management rules, and coastal management and monitoring. The program continues to evolve with new extensions both for the program and its legislation. (More...#1) In addition, Other NZ marine reserves, the equivalent of undersea national parks protected by the Department of Conservation, are proving that protection from human pressures creates significant improvements in sea flora and fauna abundance. (More...#2)
Vibrant Environmental NGO Sector
Non-government organizations participate with the government on local and regional levels through participation in policy formulation processes, particularly under the RMA, from consultation to submissions on draft plans and appeals to the Environment Court on final plans. They also engage with the government at the national level through lobbying political parties for better environmental policies. Their research and advocacy work often leads to changes in policy and government spending. (More...) NGOs perform their work against tremendous odds, not on a level playing field, with little or no resources other than their volunteer efforts. Funding has improved somewhat in the last few years with the Ministry for the Environment providing funding for particular campaigns and activities, and a Sustainable Management Fund for cash grants.
Greenhouse Gas Abatement
An emission reduction agreement (ERA) is defined as a commitment with the government for a firm or sector to manage its emissions or meet specified targets over a defined period. New Zealand has implemented voluntary emission reduction agreements since 1994. Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements (NGA) were a commitment program forming the basis of rebates or exemptions for competitiveness-at-risk (CAR) firms. The Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS) is an abatement-focused emissions-trading scheme requiring retailers, buyers and sellers of electricity to offset a portion of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their energy use. GGAS's main objectives are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage development of new strategies for generating electricity. NZ is the world leader in methods to reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals through its Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium. (More...)
Agroforestry
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