Forest for All Forever

Controlled wood category 3: Wood from forests in which high conservation values are threatened by management activities Overview New Zealand’s biodiversity has been identified as some of the most distinctive in the world (14). New Zealand is a ‘biodiversity hotspot’ because of our high level of endemism (Mittermeier et al, 2004 in reference 12). At a national level New Zealand is recognized as a globally significant biodiversity hotspot due to its high levels of endemism developed over 80 million years of biogeographic isolation (1). Most areas with globally, regionally or nationally significant concentrations of biological diversity are protected via an extensive national network of protected areas that account for around 60 different types of protected area (27). Although many alpine areas and native forests are formally protected, other distinctive habitats and ecosystems (i.e. lowland wetlands and peat bogs; lowland riverine systems and adjacent forests; dunelands; coastal forest, scrub and herbfields; lowland tussock grasslands; and eastern South Island braided rivers) are not protected (14). New Zealand has 72 different naturally uncommon ecosystems which are mainly non-forested (40, 79, 80). These ecosystems typically arise due to unusual environmental conditions often support unique biodiversity, unique communities of plants and animals, many of which are rare and threatened (40, 79). Almost two-thirds of the natural uncommon ecosystems are classified as threatened under the red-list criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Of these, 18 (40%) are critically endangered, the highest level of threat, 17 as endangered and 10 as vulnerable (30, 80). They are found in a wide range of spatial extensions and locations, scattered all over New Zealand’s territory. Despite some of them were historically destroyed and converted into plantations for forestry purposes in the 1920s (e.g. sand dunes) (81), the main current threats are not highlighted as being from forest management activities. Many of New Zealand’s threatened species find favourable habitats in or adjacent to exotic plantation forests (36). Threatened species of plants, birds, bats, invertebrates, amphibians, lizards and aquatic inhabitants have been identified in these sites (35). Wilding conifers are a threat to biodiversity and some of these species are related to forest management operations. The New Zealand Wildling Conifer Management Strategy 2015–2030 (28) is reporting progress in wilding invasive species control at a national level. The legal environmental requirements in indigenous forest and exotic plantation forests contemplate wilding conifer control and are being upheld (see indicator 1.10 Environmental requirements). New Zealand has indigenous forests in large intact forest landscapes that do not contain exotic plantation forests. Harvesting is only legally allowed in privately owned lands and legal requirements are being upheld (see for example, indicators 1.4 Harvesting permits, 1.8 Timber harvesting regulations, 1.10 Environmental requirements). The IFL degradation recorded between 2013 and 2016 is minimal and in general IFL is not reducing its extension dramatically since 2000 (32). And in general fragmentation of indigenous forests is not increasing but the trend is assessed as “neutral’ according to New Zealand’s Third Country Report on Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators of 2015 (8). In 2007, New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment established a national database of land areas (called National Priority 1 land environments) that represent rare and threatened environments and ecosystems across the whole of New Zealand (31). 500 Ecosystem Management Units are being managed and monitored by the Department of Conservation, but, these places do not fully represent the full range of ecosystems, and the management is often only partially implemented, resulting in a lower ecological integrity (EI) than may be expected (45). National Priority 1 land environments are lacking of information and data of current status of conservation. FSC-CNRA-NZ V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR NEW ZEALAND 2019 – 1 of 62 – The drinking water supply for several cities in New Zealand originates in catchments containing indigenous or exotic plantation forests. And there are examples of exotic plantations have sometimes been established for erosion control and flood protection purposes. Water is used for farming (irrigation and stock drinking water), power generation, drinking water, and industry (50). Forest management activities was not raised as a factor of concern for the threat on reduction of water quantity. In relation to the threat of reduction of water quality and quantity by forest management activities in indigenous forests and exotic plantation forests, this is unlikely given the current controls and the nature of the compounds used in forest management activities. The legal environmental requirements in indigenous forest and exotic plantation forests contemplate erosion control and best practices to ensure the maintenance of the critical ecosystem services and these requirements are being upheld (see indicator 1.10 Environmental requirements). The forest provided the basis for many traditional uses, among them collection of edible products of the forests (fruiting berries of indigenous plants, fern root, seeds, etc.), timbers for carving and building, physical remedies derived from trees, leaves, berries, fruits, bark and moss used to treat particular ailments, among others (52). However, because traditional subsistence living is almost totally absent in New Zealand, none of the above activities could be considered as being of fundamental importance to satisfy basic livelihood needs. New Zealand has three natural and cultural international significance heritage sites designated by UNESCO under the World Heritage Convention (53). Evidences of forest management activities being a current threat to these sites were not found. There is also an extensive network of national significance heritage sites under HNZ (for archaeological sites only) and under local authorities administration, which are scattered throughout New Zealand territory, but mainly are found in or around urban areas (56). There are also national significance heritage sites under the Department of Conservation which performance has been maintained between 2017/2018 (68) after its performance improved in 2015/16 (69). And national significance heritage sites under the Department of Conservation, local administration and Ngāi Tahu, which contemplates Tōpuni status areas and Nohoanga sites. According to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Annual report for 2018 (72) and in In the annual reports from the Department of Conservation for the 2015/16 and 2017/18 (68, 69), there is no mention of previous or current destruction and/or disturbances caused by forest management activities. And in general, evidences of forest management activities being a current threat to these sites were not found. This is supported by the outcomes in category 1 indicator 1.9 Protected sites and species and 1.15 Indigenous peoples’ rights showing a low risk of non-compliance with legal requirements, and category 2 indicator 2.3 The rights of indigenous and traditional peoples are upheld also stating a low risk conclusion. New Zealand is member of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators Working Group (MPCI). Experts consulted Name Organization Area of expertise (category/sub-category) 1. Dr Eckehard Brockerhoff Scion Biodiversity in planted forests (i.e. HCV 3) 2. Kevin OGrady Pinnacle Quality Assessment of high conservation values, Controlled wood System 3. Anonymous senior Ministry for Primary Resource Management Act and NES-PF analyst Industries FSC-CNRA-NZ V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR NEW ZEALAND 2019 – 2 of 62 – Risk assessment Sources of HCV occurrence and threat assessment Indicator Functional scale Risk designation and determination Information 3.0 See table of Data is available for determining HCV Geographical scale: Low Risk Information sources presence and distribution across New • Country below Zealand and for assessment of the threats to The following thresholds are met: HCVs from forest management activities (1) Data available are sufficient for determining HCV presence according to the requirements of each within the area under assessment; indicator. HCV5 Community needs was not identified and/or its occurrence is unlikely in AND New Zealand. More generally, New Zealand is a member of (2) Data available are sufficient for assessing threats to HCVs the Convention on Biological Diversity, and caused by forest management activities. the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators Working Group (MPCI). 3.1 HCV 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, Occurrence assessment Geographical scale: Low Risk 1 12, 13, 14, 21, 23, • Country 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, New Zealand’s biodiversity has been Functional scale: For indigenous forest and plantation the following threshold is met: 29, 35, 36, 37, 38, identified as some of the most distinctive in • Land protection (7) HCV 1 is identified and/or its occurrence is likely within the 40, 51, 66, 68, 69, the world (14). At a national level New regime area under assessment, but it is effectively protected from threats 77, 78, 79, 80, 81. Zealand is recognized as a globally • Protected from management activities. significant biodiversity hotspot due to

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