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China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Ltd

Northern Region FSC Forest Management Plan

For the period 2018 - 2023

Prepared by S E Moore PO Box 1127 ROTORUA Tel: 07 921 1010 Fax: 07 921 1020 [email protected] www.pfolsen.com

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ...... 5 Foundation Principle ...... 5 About this plan ...... 5 The Landscape Context ...... 6 2. The Forest Land ...... 6 Overview ...... 6 Legal ownership ...... 6 Forests & location ...... 7 Topography ...... 7 Soils ...... 8 Climate ...... 9 3. Map 1 - Forest Location Map ...... 10 4. The Broader Landscape ...... 11 Ecological Districts ...... 11 Reserves by Ecological District ...... 12 Protective Status of the Forests by Ecological District ...... 12 Historic and archaeological sites ...... 13 Threatened Environments Classification ...... 13 5. Map 2 - Forest Ecological Context: Waitangi, Mahoe, Houto Forests ...... 14 Forest Ecological Context: Rototuna, Pouto Forests ...... 15 6. Socio-economic profile and adjacent land ...... 16 Forest history ...... 16 Current social profile ...... 16 Associations with Tangata Whenua ...... 18 Tenure & resource rights ...... 18 Neighbours ...... 19 Regulatory Environment & Risk Management ...... 20 7. The Regulatory Environment & Risk ...... 20 Regulatory considerations ...... 20 Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 ...... 20 Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 ...... 21 National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) ...... 22 Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 ...... 25 Consents & authorities held ...... 25 Emissions Trading Scheme ...... 25 Other relevant legislation ...... 26 8. Commercial Risk Management ...... 27 Objectives, targets and monitoring ...... 27 Market access retention ...... 27 Log customer credit risk ...... 27 Infrastructure damage or service disruption ...... 27 Fire ...... 28 Pests and diseases ...... 28

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

9. Environmental Risk Management ...... 29 Environmental risk ...... 29 Environmental policy ...... 30 EMS framework ...... 31 Environmental Code of Practice ...... 31 Forest Road Engineering Manual ...... 31 Assessment of environmental risks ...... 32 Hazardous substances management ...... 33 Highly hazardous chemicals ...... 34 Management Objectives ...... 35 10. Forest Investment Objectives ...... 35 Management structure ...... 35 Business objectives ...... 35 The Managed Plantation Estate ...... 36 11. Commercial Plantation Estate ...... 36 Productive Capacity strategy ...... 36 Forest area ...... 36 Estate profile ...... 37 Current ...... 37 Age class distribution ...... 38 Current crop status ...... 38 Productivity indices ...... 39 Carbon sequestration ...... 40 Infrastructure...... 41 12. Commercial Crop Establishment and Silviculture ...... 42 Introduction ...... 42 Forest management goals ...... 42 Crop species ...... 43 Other species ...... 43 Unwanted pine spread ...... 43 Replanting programme ...... 44 Pre-establishment considerations ...... 44 Establishment methods ...... 45 Tending ...... 46 Tree nutrition...... 47 13. Harvesting Strategy and Operations ...... 48 Balancing the harvest vs. forest value ...... 48 Harvesting strategy ...... 49 14. Forest Inventory, Mapping and Forest Records ...... 54 Inventory ...... 54 Mapping ...... 54 Forest records ...... 54 Non-commercial Estate Management & Protection ...... 55 15. Protected Forests, Habitats, Ecosystems and Species ...... 55 Introduction ...... 55

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Protected ecosystems ...... 55 Management classification ...... 55 Protected Ecosystems Management Categories by function and area ...... 57 High Conservation Value forests ...... 58 Conservation covenants ...... 58 Water quality ...... 59 Management and riparian setbacks ...... 60 Rare and threatened species ...... 61 Fish ...... 61 Avifauna ...... 64 Bats ...... 65 Herpetofauna ...... 66 CITES species ...... 67 Anticipated management activities ...... 67 Ecological equivalence ...... 68 16. Property Management and Protection ...... 69 Statutory pest obligations ...... 69 Plant pests ...... 69 pests ...... 70 Insects and fungal disorders ...... 70 Pest control...... 71 Chemical control ...... 72 Fire prevention and control ...... 73 Fire authority responsibilities ...... 73 Public liability insurance ...... 74 Fire insurance ...... 74 Other Benefits from the Forest ...... 75 17. Recreation, Forest Products and Other Special Values ...... 75 Introduction ...... 75 Recreational usage ...... 75 Te Araroa trail ...... 76 Grazing ...... 76 Waahi Tapu sites ...... 76 Duneland soil conservation ...... 77 Non-timber forest products ...... 77 Community infrastructure ...... 77 Research trials ...... 77 Environmental and social cost-benefit analysis ...... 78 Other special values ...... 79 Public access roads ...... 80 Looking Ahead ...... 81 18. Monitoring ...... 81 Introduction ...... 81 Values monitored ...... 81 Financial ...... 83 Social ...... 83 Other monitoring ...... 83

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

19. Industry Participation and Research ...... 84 20. Future Planning ...... 86 Introduction ...... 86 Operation plans ...... 86 Stakeholder consultation...... 86 21. Register of Plan Change and Review ...... 87 Change register ...... 87 Appendix 1:...... 88 Appendix 2:...... 89 Appendix 3:...... 90 Appendix 4:...... 91 Appendix 5:...... 93 Appendix 6:...... 94 Appendix 7:...... 95 Appendix 8 ...... 122 Appendix 9:...... 123

© PF OLSEN LTD

All rights reserved.

All rights of copying, publication, storage, transmission and retrieval in whole or part by any means and for all purposes except for bona fide copying by the entity that commissioned this report, as set out on the title page, are reserved.

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

1. INTRODUCTION

Foundation Within the China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Ltd (CFG NZ) forest Principle estate, where CFG NZ is owner or agent for the forest owner, they are committed to, and undertake to manage the forest estate in accordance with, the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC®) Principles and Criteria as set out in the FSC Standard for New Zealand. The CFG estate will be managed under the PF Olsen Ltd FSC Group Certification Scheme, to meet the FSC standards of good forest management. These standards include ecological, social and economic parameters.

About this plan This Management Plan covers a group of forests comprising the Northland region subset of the total CFG NZ managed forest estate. It holds details of the intended management over the specified period, and contains: • A description of the land and its landscape context; • A description of the external operating environment; • Management objectives; • A description of the commercial plantation estate and its non- commercial elements and obligations; • Forest management, harvesting, protection and land management intentions; • Provisions for monitoring and protection and public usage; • Maps showing plantation area, legal boundaries and protected areas.

This plan pertains to the management of the CFG NZ managed estate. Once obtained, FSC certification will be valid for the next 5 years. The next review date for this plan is February 2023.

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited The Landscape Context 2. The Forest Land

Overview This section describes the legal and physical attributes of the land on which the forest is located. Included in this section are discussions of:

• Legal ownership and tenure; • Location and access; • Topography; • Soils; • Climate.

Legal ownership The proposed FSC certified estate area, plantation and reserve, under agreement is positioned upon a land ownership structure comprising Crown leasehold, corporate freehold (private), and individual private land. CFG NZ ownership of the tree crop upon those land categories is by way of crown lease, Forestry Rights and lease agreements as listed below:

Forest Forest Ownership Freehold land Houto Freehold land Mahoe Forestry Right Pouto Freehold land Rototuna Crown Forestry Licence Waitangi

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Forests & The CFG NZ Northern Region estate comprises five separate forests located location predominantly in the geographical region of Northland (see Map 1 Forest Location).

CFG NZ Northern Region Forests as at 31 December 2017 Forest Name Gross Area (ha) Productive Area (ha) Waitangi 2,230 1,769 Mahoe 702 584 Houto 1,002 840 Rototuna 6,284 5,288 Pouto 1,814 1,108 Total 12,032 9,589

Waitangi Forest is the northern most forest located adjacent to the town of Kerikeri and north of Waitangi.

Mahoe Forest is located approximately 55km north of the town of Dargaville and east of State Highway 15 between Tautoro and Nukutawhiti in the south.

Houto Forest is located approximately 32km northeast of Dargaville with access off Houto Road.

Rototuna and Pouto Forests are located on the Pouto Peninsula approximately 50km south of the town of Dargaville.

Forest Locations Potential Market or Export Minimum Distance from Log market Port Forest (km) Northport -Marsden Point Average 100 km Export Whangarei Average 80 km Domestic

Topography Much of Northland is undulating to moderately steep hill country that has been weathered by the subtropical climate over a long period of time.

A range of harvesting operations will be utilised in these forests. Most of the coastal forests and the undulating flatter areas of the estate are suited to ground based harvesting operations. The steeper areas of the forests will employ cable based harvesting systems.

The altitude throughout the CFG NZ Northern Region estate ranges from almost sea level for the coastal forests to approximately 400 metres for the inland forests.

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Soils The Northland region climate, topography, historic vegetation and mixed geology have combined to form a complex pattern of soils across the region resulting in more than 220 soil types in Northland. Much of Northland is undulating to moderately steep hill country that has been weathered by the subtropical climate over a long period of time. As a result, most of the soils contain a lot of clay resulting in clays or clay loams.

On the flatter areas, which were originally covered in kauri-dominated forest, so-called gumland soils developed. These were mined for kauri gum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Superphosphate is needed on gumland soils used for forestry, and potassium fertiliser is used on podzolised sands (areas leached of nutrients by weathering and acid tree litter). Forests grown near coastal sand dunes also need nitrogen fertiliser, or associated plantings of lupins – which ‘fix’ nitrogen in the soil so it can be used by the trees1.

Summary of main soils in CFG NZ Northland region forests NZ Soils Summary2 Forest classification Acid Brown Extremely acid brown soil from weathered oxides – not Houto waterlogged nor droughty. Oxidic Granular clays from strong weathering of volcanic rocks / ash. Mahoe Granular Lower fertility than other oxidic soils Perched Gley Eastern side – strongly weathered well-structured soils often Rototuna Ultic with perched watertables. Sandy recent Western side -sand or loamy sands with weakly developed

topsoil Sandy raw Sand or loamy sand with no distinct topsoil due to recent active Pouto deposition Yellow Ultic Yellow strongly weathered structure that is clay enriched. Waitangi Leached and acidic. Mesic Organic Moderately decomposed peats originating under highly acid

forest soils

Gley podzol soils are derived from sedimentary parent rocks, have brown clay topsoils, and can retain significant moisture content throughout winter and spring.

Continued on next page...

1 Allan Gillingham, 'Soils and regional land use - Northland', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/soils-and-regional-land-use/page-2 (accessed 8 December 2017) 2 Abridged from https://soils- maps.landcareresearch.co.nz/?layername=fsl_nzsc&idcolumn=nzsc_group&idvalue=RS&mapfile=fsl&srs=EPSG:2193&mode =normal

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…continued The other Northland soils are mostly a mix of brown soils, free-draining soils from basalt, and poorly drained hill and steepland soils from old andesitic volcanic action. The best free-draining (oxidic) soils, from more recent basaltic volcanism, are largely used for dairying and a range of horticultural crops.

All Northland’s soils are acidic and low in natural phosphorus and sulfur, so lime and superphosphate fertiliser (9% phosphorus, 11% sulfur) are needed for pasture growth. Other nutrients such as potassium, molybdenum and copper may also be required.

Climate CFG NZ Northern Region forests are located on the North Auckland Peninsula which extends from Auckland City in the south to North Cape with a length of approximately 300km. Despite its length, the Northland Region is no more than 100km at its widest point with no point more than 50km from the sea. The Northland region is classed as subtropical and receives regular moisture laden winds throughout the year.

Rainfall: The average annual rainfall in Northland is 1,350mm, the wettest months being June through to August. The Waitangi, Mahoe and Houto forests are located in areas that receive a median annual average rainfall >1500mm per annum. The coastal forests of Rototuna and Pouto receive a somewhat lower median average rainfall3.of 1,150mm.

Temperature: Northland enjoys a relatively mild climate with few extremes in temperature. Although frosting is rare, it does occur. The lowest temperature recorded for Northland is -5.6 degrees Celsius with a high recorded of 35 degrees Celsius. The mean annual temperature is between 15.5 and 16.5 degrees Celsius. Summer temperatures average highs of 24 degrees Celsius and lows of 14 degrees Celsius. Winter temperatures average highs of 16 degrees Celsius and lows of 7 degrees Celsius.

Most of Northland sits below 150m above sea level, although some of the ranges extend up to 650m a.s.l.

Being subtropical and a relatively narrow land mass, climatic conditions are warmer across all seasons and rainfall more unevenly distributed. The region can be subjected to cyclonic and ocean influenced storms which can lead to localised damaging heavy rainfall events and wind events.

The climate zones are very well suited to plantation forest growth with no water nor temperature constraints. The coastal zone where Pouto and Rototuna Forests are located tend to be more exposed to prevailing westerly winds and slightly drier over the summer months.

3 The Climate and Weather of Northland 3rd Edition. P.R Chappel - NIWA 2013

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3. Map 1 - Forest Location Map

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4. The Broader Landscape

Ecological The CFG NZ forests are geographically spread over a number of Ecological Districts Districts (ED).

CFG NZ Northern Region Forests by Ecological District

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Reserves by Under the FSC National Standard for Plantation Forest Management in New Ecological District Zealand (revised in 2013), an area of reserves equivalent to 10% of the productive area should be reserved within each ED, inclusive of 5% reserved within any large forest over 1,000 ha.

CFG NZ Northern Region forests fall within four separate EDs. The table below illustrates the percentage of area reserved within the CFG NZ Northland estate compared to the total forest area within each ED.

One of the four EDs meets the 10% threshold, whilst the others do not, to varying degrees. The largest shortfall is in the Kaipara ED.

Where there is an area shortfall, FSC standards provide a series of options by which “Ecological Equivalence” can be achieved. This aspect is addressed in the section on ecological equivalence.

Protective Status of the Forests by Ecological District

Total Forest Reserve Reserve Meets Reserve Shortfall Ecological Forest District Area (ha) Area (ha) % FSC? (ha) equivalent Eastern Waitangi 2,230 304.1 13.6 Yes - Northland Rototuna, Kaipara 8,050 610.3 7.6 No 194.6 Pouto Tangihua Houto 1,003 94.3 9.4 No 6 Tutamoe Mahoe 702 41.7 5.9 No 28.5

As well as 10% by ED, large forests must also meet the 5% internal reserve threshold. Of the five forests, four are large forests, being over 1,000 ha. Pouto is the only large forest that falls short of the 5% reserve target, at 4.1%. This equates to a 9.8 ha shortfall. Pouto currently is also the reason for the deficiency in the Kaipara ED, so addressing the ED shortfall will also solve the large forest shortfall.

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Historic and Records of known pre-European archaeological and early post European archaeological settlement historical places are maintained in the NZ Archaeological sites Association (NZAA) Site Recording Scheme website Archsite NZ4. PF Olsen subscribes to the system to receive up-to-date data on all sites in its managed estates. Additionally, the Archaeological Site Probability model published by the Department of Conservation5 provides further guidance on the probability of pre-European archaeological evidence existing based on the geographical location of the forest and historical occupation of the local area.

Many parts of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate is associated with long periods of pre-European habitation by Māori as well as sites related to early European habitation. A consequence of this association is the presence of extensive known archaeological sites and the high probability of discovering previously unknown sites or artefacts.

Threatened The CFG NZ Northern Region forests contain areas that meet the criteria for Environments of Threatened Environments (Map 2). Plantation forests in the Northland Classification region contain some of the best remaining remnants of these threatened environments.

Wetland habitats within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate are disproportionally represented in the ‘Acutely Threatened’ (<10% indigenous cover left) and ‘At Risk’ (20-30% left) categories.6 This is a result of many of the region’s wetlands being drained and cleared for agricultural purposes. There are numerous examples where small forested native enclaves within the exotic forest matrix are significant at the landscape level, as they represent one of few remaining areas of native that once existed. These areas have been identified and classified, and afforded the appropriate protective status.

Threatened Environment Classification of Reserve Areas, CFG NZ Northern Region Estate

<10% indigenous >30% left and >30% left and 10-20% left 20-30% left Total Area (ha) Forest cover left <10% protected >20% protected Houto 43.8 2.9 45.8 1.5 94.0 Mahoe 4.2 37.2 0.5 41.9 Pouto 48.2 48.2 Rototuna 335.6 71.3 186.6 593.5 Waitangi CFG 180.5 51.9 67.1 2.0 2.3 303.8 Total Area (ha) 564.1 126.1 301.9 85.0 4.3 1,081.4

4 http://www.archsite.org.nz/ 5 Arnold, G.; Newsome, P.; Heke, H. 2004: Predicting archaeological sites in New Zealand. DOC Science Internal Series 180. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 24 p. 6 Beadel, S. ; Assessment of Ecological Values of Natural of areas in China Forestry Group Forests (Northern Region) Wildlands Consultants; October 2017

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5. Map 2 - Forest Ecological Context: Waitangi, Mahoe, Houto Forests

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Forest Ecological Context: Rototuna, Pouto Forests

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6. Socio-economic profile and adjacent land

Forest history Prior to being established in plantation forestry the land was a mix of indigenous forest, scrubland and pastoral farming. The Northland Region has approximately 160,000 ha of plantation forests (MPI 2012).

Forestry has been proven to be a good economic use of this erosion prone, nutrient deficient land. Due to the favourable soils, topography and climate the trees grow well in this region.

Current social The CGF NZ Northern Region forest estate is geographically spread profile characterised by rural based communities. Waitangi Forest is located in close proximity to the small Northland township of Kerikeri. The coastal forests of Rototuna and Pouto and also the inland forests of Houto and Mahoe are relatively isolated rural settings with no large population centres in the immediate proximity.

The city of Whangarei is the largest population centre within the Northland Region and is some 80km on average to the south and east of the forests. Dargaville is the closest population centre to Rototuna and Pouto forests and most forest products produced from these coastal forests will be transported through this town.

There are many small rural based communities located near the forests that are often very dependent on forestry (and agriculture) for employment opportunities. There is a strong Māori population presence in these rural areas that are often close to ancestral lands. The Northland Region contains the fifth highest population of Māori in New Zealand7.

The Northland Region has large areas of high socioeconomic deprivation8, primarily due the small populations living in rural areas as well as the lower opportunities for employment and education within those areas.

Growth opportunities are evident in Forestry and Logging and has seen a 3.7% increase in employment since 2005 employing 615 people with sawmilling employing 560 people9. Overall forestry is an important industry with Northport at Marsden Point having the second largest log export volumes in New Zealand.

Continued on next page...

7 A Regional Profile – Bay of Plenty, Statistics New Zealand, Len Cook, 1999. 8 Atlas of Socioeconomic Deprivation in New Zealand NZDep2006. 9 Regional Economic Activity Report MBIE 2015

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…continued Key statistics as summarised from Census10 data provide the following: Northland NZ Region European 75.7% 74% Maori 32.4% 14.9% Formal qualifications 72.6% 79.1% Unemployment 9.7% 7.1% Dominant occupation Managers Professional Median income $23,400 $28,500 Family w children 35.9% 41.3% Internet 68% 76.8% Home ownership 66.2% 64.8% Employed in agriculture, fishing & 8.9% 5.7% forestry

The CFG Northern Region forest estate sits within the Northland Wood Supply region as defined by the New Zealand National Exotic Forest Description 2016. Planted forests make up 30% of all forest cover11. This wood supply regions contains 185,939 ha or 11% of the national wood supply area. The 10,298 productive hectares of the CFG estate thus represents just 5.5% of the regional wood supply.

At this scale, operations within the CFG estate do not have a large regional influence; however, at the sub regional scale the CFG estate is big enough to contribute to reasonable spread of forest based activity over extended periods and thus some continuity in work for contractors who are drawn from the immediate surrounding communities.

10 http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-about-a- place.aspx?request_value=13853&tabname=Business# 11 National Exotic Forest Description as at 1st April 2016. Ministry of Primary Industries 2016

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Associations with Approximately 85% of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate is located upon Tangata Whenua land involving direct Iwi interests. Representatives of the relevant Iwi are considered stakeholders with a significant interest in the management of the forests under the various agreements. The relationships operate at a variety of levels dependant on the terms and obligations of underlying agreements.

Additionally, engagement can include additional voluntary Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) (outside of the legal agreements), that direct interaction between parties and other interactions from casual to structured consultations and communications.

Māori Involvement in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Forest Iwi Pouto Te Uri O Hau Rototuna Te Uri O Hau Waitangi Te Tii Marae hapu

CFG NZ representatives and PF Olsen staff have already been engaged on issues related to employment and sites of cultural significance and such engagement will continue as a normal part of ongoing management interactions.

Tenure & This forest estate is an aggregate of ownership structures and agreements. resource rights The estate is owned by an overseas investor, CFG. The estate includes various legal forms – Freehold, Leases, Forestry Rights.

CFG NZ has appointed PF Olsen Limited as Property Manager for the Northern Region forest estate responsible for day to day operational planning and supervision to the standard required to maintain FSC under the PF Olsen FSC Group Scheme Certificate.

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Neighbours Neighbours to the forest estate boundaries may have a special interest in the management of the forest. Activities within the forest may positively or negatively impact upon their quality of life or businesses in a number of ways, while inappropriately managed operations could create risks of adverse health, safety and environmental and biosecurity hazards. As such, neighbours are considered stakeholders with a potential interest in the management of the forests.

Larger forests by default have long shared boundaries and will consequently have numerous neighbours. This implies that operations in the forests have a potential to impact upon many neighbours. Most neighbours are rural dwellers and are involved in a range of rural economic activities from tourism to horticulture, agriculture or other small businesses. Corporate neighbours are usually other forest owners while the Department of Conservation may also be a direct neighbour in many locations.

Where possible, publicly available details of these groups, their representatives or the individuals concerned are gathered and held in a stakeholder register database for the purposes of engagement, where relevant, over forest management matters that may affect them such as operations over the adjacent boundary.

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited Regulatory Environment & Risk Management 7. The Regulatory Environment & Risk

Regulatory Forestry operations throughout New Zealand are undertaken within the considerations context of a regulatory framework that aims to ensure wider economic, social and environmental goals are achieved for the populace as a whole.

Failure to meet regulatory requirements is a key business risk that must be managed. The following section summarise key regulatory requirements and risk management controls exercised over forestry operations in the CFG NZ estate.

Health and • CFG NZ management, leadership and constant focus, including the Safety at Work strong message that safety rates as the number one priority ahead of Act 2015 any other business driver. • Contractor selection process including emphasis on: – safety systems and track record – worker skills and training – equipment type and standard • Work planning. • Contractor induction. • Monitoring, including random and reasonable cause drug testing, safe work practices and PPE. • Incident investigation and reporting, including investing in software, training and processes development to enable good transparency on lag and lead indicators. • Regular (annual) review and update of the critical risks as identified in CFG NZ estate data sets and from Industry indicators. Such a review shall focus on incidents that have caused harm and/or loss, any known cause factors and mitigations and revised controls.

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Resource The RMA sets up a resource management system that promotes the Management Act sustainable management of natural and physical resources and is now the (RMA) 1991 principal statute for the management of land, water, soil and other resources in New Zealand. The RMA effectively delegates much of the rule development and enforcement to local government organisations. The organisations relevant to the CFG NZ Northern estate are listed below:

Regional Council12 District Councils 13 Whangarei District Council Northland Regional Council Far North District Council Kaipara District Council

Under the RMA, each Council has its own planning documents and associated rules that have been developed through public process. Any forestry operations must comply with the rules relevant to the Council area in which the operations is to take place.

At the time of formulation of this Management Plan, it was just announced that many individual Council rules will be superseded by a new instrument under the RMA, the ‘National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry’ (NES-PF), designed explicitly to assist streamlining, efficiency and consistency in the application of environmental law to the forest industry (see next section). The NES-PF becomes operative 1 May 2018.

A full list of contact details for the relevant Regional and District Councils is located in Appendix 1.

12 Regional Councils responsible for soil conservation and water and air quality issues 13 District Councils responsible for land use and biodiversity issues

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National Coming into law on 1 May 2018, the NES-PF14 is a whole new rule Environmental hierarchy that applies the same rule set uniformly across most forestry Standard for operations in all parts of New Zealand. Operations will come under the Plantation Forestry legal framework of this RMA instrument, though local Councils will retain (NES-PF) the ability to regulate specific areas outside the NES-PF, e.g. Significant Natural Areas, Outstanding Landscapes, giving effect to the Coastal Policy Statement etc.

The core underpinning the structure of the NES-PF is a rule hierarchy linked to the erosion susceptibility of the lands upon which forestry operations are to be conducted.

Work commissioned by the Ministry of Primary Industries led to the creation of a national spatial map, the ‘Erosion Susceptibility Classification‘ (ESC) that classifies all of New Zealand into a series of four classes of erosion susceptibility from low (green) to very high (red).

The stringency of the rules hierarchy, i.e. whether consents are needed and the degree to which Councils can apply discretion to the conditions attached to a consent, is then tied closely to the recognised erosion susceptibility of the lands involved and the risks created by the operations.

In the case of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate, the table below indicates the breakdown of the estate into the respective ESC classes.

ESC Classes (Erosion Risk) Low Moderate High Very High 21.1 % 65.8 % 6.8 % 6.3 %

In broad terms, harvesting, roading (earthworks) and new afforestation operations will need consents in the red zone. Earthworks will need consents in orange, and in the green and yellow zones most operations will be permitted subject to conditions. The coverage of the erosion classes within the estate are illustrated in Map 3.

14 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2017/0174/latest/whole.html

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited Map 3- National Environmental Standard Erosion Susceptibility Classes: Waitangi, Mahoe, Houto

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited National Environmental Standard Erosion Susceptibility Classes: Rototuna, Pouto

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Heritage New It is the landowner’s responsibility to identify any historic sites on their land Zealand Pouhere prior to undertaking any work which may disturb or destroy such sites. Taonga Act 2014 If a site is found or suspected on any block, protocols specified in PF Olsen’s EMS, and any others specifically developed in conjunction with Heritage NZ, archaeologists and Iwi or other stakeholders, will be observed and the necessary Archaeological Authorities obtained with Heritage NZ and if necessary the local Territorial Authority.

These responses may include, but are not limited to: • Map and ground surveys to identify, mark and protect known heritage sites. • Iwi consultation and surveys for unknown sites. • Archaeological Authorities to modify sites if required. • Accidental Discovery Protocols to stop work and engage experts if sites are discovered during operations.

Consents & The current resource consents and Heritage NZ authorities that apply to the authorities held CFG NZ Northern Region estate are attached in Appendix 2.

Emissions Forests in New Zealand are governed by rules related to New Zealand’s Trading Scheme Climate Change Response Act (CCRA) to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint and contribution to associated climate change.

All of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate lands were existing forest as at 31st December 1989. At harvest, these stands can be subject to a deforestation tax equivalent to the tonnes of CO2 projected to be released from decomposition of the forest at a unit financial value determined by the internationally traded emission units. This tax is payable if the forest is not replanted or, if left to regenerate naturally, does not achieve the regulated heights and stocking densities.

In some instances where CFG NZ does not own the land, the landowner is responsible for this surrender liability. In this case CFG NZ receives no benefit, nor incurs any liability, for carbon from forests within its estate. All responsibility for carbon falls to the landowners under the various agreements (Leases / Forestry Rights). The land is deemed to be temporarily unstocked if in cutover at time of handback.

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Other relevant There are numerous other statutes and regulations that impact on forest legislation operations. Forest owners can be held liable for breaches of these Acts and may be held responsible for damage to third party property. Management processes seek to manage and minimise these risks.

Other relevant legislation is listed in Appendix 3.

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8. Commercial Risk Management

Objectives, PF Olsen’s objectives, targets and monitoring categorised across 5 key targets and aspects of the business: monitoring 1. Economic 2. Legal 3. Social 4. Health & safety 5. Environment

A systematic management approach ensures these objectives and targets remain the cornerstone of PF Olsen’s business, backstopped by monitoring processes that form a regular review of practices. These are summarised in Appendix 5.

Market access • It is a major focus of the Property Manager to ensure contracted retention products are delivered on time and in specification to ensure CFG NZ retains credible access to its markets. • CFG NZ maintains independent third party environmental certification for its estate under Forest Stewardship Council certification (FSC). PF Olsen Ltd acting under the instruction of its client will be responsible for the excecution and maintenance of the required FSC certification elements of which this management plan forms an important component.

Log customer • There have been a number of NZ sawmills fail in recent years leaving credit risk log customers unpaid for the last month’s deliveries. CFG NZ manages customer credit risk exposure and mitigation measures for export and domestic log customers.

Infrastructure The CFG NZ Northern Region estate is traversed by a number of powerline damage or utilities. Risks around these are managed by: service • Identification on maps and on the ground any utilities at planning disruption stage. • Early engagement with utility owner to plan operations to minimise risks. • Operational execution of agreed plans with parties specifically qualified for the tasks involved when working close to utilities.

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Fire Fire is always a risk to the forests. The CFG NZ Northern Region estate has risks related to the nature of the estate with numerous boundaries resulting in interface with other landowners and land uses. The coastal forests in particular can become very dry over summer. Fire risk is managed through: • Protocols to restrict work hours or to stop work in periods of extreme fire risk. • Annual auditing and regular monitoring of contractors’ fire prevention and first response equipment prior to fire season each year. • Maintenance of trained personnel and fire suppression equipment. • Protocols for pooling of resources as a first response to fires under the leadership of Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ).

Pests and • The CFG NZ Northern Region forest estate is included in a nationally diseases run annual survey for the presence of known or new pests and disease. • Pests and diseases are managed according to any statutory obligations and best practices as identified by scientific research and past experience, with the type and intensity of treatment (if any) subject to what is at risk and the age of trees (see Section 16).

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9. Environmental Risk Management

Environmental Environmental risk is managed by PF Olsen as appointed property manager, risk through a cascade framework from high level ‘intent’ determined by the Forestry Rights owner, through PF Olsen’s own environmental policies, thence through defined and documented processes constituting an Environmental Management System (EMS), supported by monitoring and reporting.

PF Olsen’s policies and CFG NZ’s business objectives are considered to be well in alignment.

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Environmental PF Olsen Ltd policy Environmental Policy

PF Olsen Limited is committed to: • Sustainable forest and land management; • Promoting high environmental performance standards that recognise the input of the community in which we operate;

• Supporting an environment of continuous improvement in environmental performance;

• Obtaining and retaining independent 3rd party forest certification in conformance with the Principles and Criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council and / or the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification as specified by forest owning clients, or in any case ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems.

In order to achieve these commitments PF Olsen (and PF Olsen Certification Scheme Members) will undertake the following: • Where applicable to a particular forest, comply with the presiding Certification Standards as set out in any agreements between the forest owners and PF Olsen. • Planning of operations to avoid, mitigate or remedy degradation of ecological, heritage and amenity values; • Compliance with all relevant legislation and where appropriate exceed environmental statutory requirements; • Training for all employees and contractors to ensure an understanding of certification member’s commitments to high standards of environmental performance, their responsibilities under the environmental legislation and to assist the implementation of sound environmental practices; • Monitoring environmental and socio-economic research and international agreements that may improve PF Olsen environmental and certification performance; • Regular environmental performance audits of operations; • Support for environmental research; • Undertake forest management in accordance with the principles and ethics of the NZ Forest Accord the Principles for Commercial Plantation Forest Management in NZ, and other relevant agreements, conventions and accords. • Promotion of the prevention of waste and pollution; • Promotion of the effective and efficient use of energy; • Due regard for the well-being of the community.

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EMS framework The Environmental Management System (EMS) is an integrated set of cloud based, defined and documented policies, processes and activities that govern the physical implementation of forest management activities. The EMS applies a systematic approach certified to ISO:14001 standards to ensure that prevention of adverse and harmful impacts is effective.

The framework is reviewed annually with the input of an Environmental Management Group (EMG).

Environmental As a member of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, all operations Code of Practice carried out on the property should be undertaken in conformance to the NZ Forest Owners Association ‘New Zealand Environmental Code of Practice for Plantation Forestry’. This publicly available document sets out guidelines that underpin the requirements for sound and practical environmental management.

Forest Road As a member of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, roading and Engineering engineering techniques employed within the forest should conform to the Manual industry best practice as outlined in the New Zealand Forest Owners Association publication, ‘NZ Forest Road Engineering Manual’, published 2012.

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Assessment of Environmental risks arising from forest operations are assessed and environmental managed on a site-by-site basis prior to execution. The relative probability risks and magnitude of adverse effect attributable to any particular operation on any particular site is highly variable.

At a high level, ‘risks’ are presented as consuming services summarised for a typical plantation life cycle in Appendix 6. As a broad assessment over the total CFG Northern Region estate, the potential for adverse impacts across the range of operations and forest sites is indicated in the Environmental Assessment matrix below, which summarises the identified risks. The level of potential risk has been evaluated in the matrix as high ‘H’, medium ‘M’ or low ‘L’, or not applicable ‘NA’ and is thus indicative of the level of care that might need to be applied to ensure the potential for adverse effects is minimised.

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES/ISSUES MATRIX

Forestry Operational

Activities

Conservation & & Conservation

Erosion& Sediment Sediment Erosion& Control WaterQuality Soil Quality Quality Air Life Aquatic Wildlife Native Vegetation Native &Cultural Historical Values &Visual Landscape Values Neighbours Utilities Public Values Recreation ThreatenedSpecies

Harvesting M M M L L H L-H H M-H H M-H M H Earthworks H H H L M-H L L-M H M-H M L-H L-M L-M Slash Management H M H L L-H L L-M L-M L-M L-M L-H L L

Stream Crossings M H M L-H L L L L M L L L Mechanical Land L M M M L L H M M L M M Preparation Burning L H H H M M L-H L-M H H M-H H L-H

Planting L L-H L-H L-H M L-H L Tending L L L L L L L- Fertiliser Application L M L M L M L M L- Agrichemical Use L-M H L-H L L-M L-M M L-H L H L-H H L- Oil & Fuel Management L-M L-H L L L L L L L H Waste Management L L L L M-H M M M-H L Forest Protection L L-M L L-M M L-H L

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Hazardous Hazardous substances are any substances, which may cause adverse substances environmental impacts and/or injury or health problems if incorrectly management handled or used.

The hazardous materials which may be used within CFG NZ Northern Region estate are: • Pesticides (herbicides – for commercial and ecological weeds, fungicides – for forest fungal disease control, and vertebrate or invertebrate toxins – used for control of pest mammals e.g. hares and possum or wasps). • Fuels and oils. • Fire retardants – only ever used if there is a fire. • Surfactants – to increase herbicide efficacy. Transportation, storage and labelling of these hazardous materials must all comply with the provisions of legislative controls under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the NZS 8409:2004 Management of Agrichemicals code of practice.

During actual usage, the highest risks are associated with chemical trespass or bulk fuel spillages. These risks are managed by: • Neighbour consultation over planned spray operations. • Careful planning and timing of any aerial operations having regard to wind and spray drift. • Unsprayed buffer strips on neighbour boundaries and riparian or other protected reserves. • GPS flight path control and records. • Monitoring and recording of weather conditions during the operation, including using smoke bombs and photos/video. • Moving contractors into the use of double skinned bulk fuel storage tanks as the preferred method of containment for all larger capacity tanks. • Tracking of all active ingredient usage within the estate. Risk management includes active involvement in and review of technologies and research into alternative methods for the control of weeds, pests and diseases where these are effective and efficient.

Fuel use is directly related to the machinery used in forestry operations and the market locations. Using modern efficient machine technology is still the primary area where efficiency gains can be made. There is a steady programme to transfer chain bar oils to vegetable based low toxicity oils.

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Highly hazardous There are five agrichemicals that have been classified ‘highly hazardous’ chemicals (HH) by FSC that are used in forestry and conservation operations within PF Olsen group certified forests. All these five have recently been added to FSC’s HH list (see table below). Normally, special derogations from FSC to continue usage of these chemicals, subject to conditions, would be required under FSC policies. However, the means of execution of those policies are currently under review by FSC and until that review is complete, a policy directive issued from FSC allows for the continued use of the newly classified chemicals. Derogations or whatever alternative formal process that arises from the policy review will need to be applied for by PF Olsen as FSC Group Manager in conjunction with the wider NZ certified industry. The derogation process is run according to specific policies put in place by FSC, including extensive canvassing of stakeholder views.

Two vertebrate poisons were already classified HH. Neither toxicant has been used by PF Olsen in their own right, but they may be applied from time to time as part of TB Animal Health Board or wider conservation based pest control by third parties. A derogation is current for the PF Olsen Group Scheme for 1080 but will require renewal under the new system upon expiry in March 2018.

All the classes of formulations used are registered and legally approved for in use New Zealand by the NZ Environmental Protection Agency, subject to various controls, and for the purposes to which they are applied as listed below.

Hazardous chemicals used or potentially used in the CFG NZ estate Newly classified HH chemicals. Active ingredient Purpose Common usage Copper based products Fungicide Needle cast control Picloram Herbicide Establishment weed control Carbaryl Insecticide Localised wasp control Cholecalciferol Vertebrate pesticide Localised possum control Pindone Vertebrate pesticide Rabbit and hare control

Previously Existing HH classifications Use subject to Animal Health Board emergency provisions only Animal Health Board only, ground Sodium cyanide Vertebrate pesticide based possum control Sodium Animal Health Board only, extensive Monofluoroacetate Vertebrate pesticide aerial possum control (1080)

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Management Objectives 10. Forest Investment Objectives

Management In common with the approach taken by many Timber Investment structure Management Organisations (TIMOs), the NZ forest holdings of CFG NZ are managed as a financial asset, the key features of which are: 1. Financial structuring, tax, accounting plus log marketing and land/lessor management as well as oversight of property management. 2. Actual property management to manage day-to-day forestry and harvesting operational planning and execution is contracted to a reputable local forestry management company, in this case PF Olsen Ltd. PF Olsen Ltd is a NZ owned and NZ resident forest management company based in Rotorua but with an operational presence in every region of NZ15.

Business CFG NZ, as a socially responsible owner, places priority on health, safety, objectives and environment as described in its charters. Maximising returns will be understood and applied within this context, following a systematic approach that is regularly reviewed.

CFG NZ owns its NZ forest cutting rights as a financial asset from which it expects to maximise financial returns while concurrently managing the associated statutory, reputational and commercial risks.

Financial returns are maximised by a mix of: 1. Stumpage16 returns from harvesting; and 2. Forest value – protecting the existing forest and adding value through best practice silviculture. 3. Management excellence – including giving precedence to our over- arching values, attitudes and beliefs that serve to keep our workers and the environment safe from harm.

15 www.pfolsen.com 16 Sales prices less costs of sales from harvesting trees.

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The Managed Plantation Estate

11. Commercial Plantation Estate

Productive Forest management is carried out to ensure the productive capacity of the Capacity strategy CFG NZ estate is not compromised, encompassing multiple aspects that include: • Pests and weeds and forest health- can reduce productivity, • Inventory- to feed into growth estimation, a core step in timing silviculture and formulating the cutting strategy, • Silviculture- to enhance the value of the resource, • Harvesting- achieving a successful harvest in terms of the forest owner’s health and safety, environmental and commercial objectives.

Forest area The CFG NZ Northern Region forested estate is made up of five separate forest blocks ranging in size from 702 ha to 6,297 ha and totalling 12,046 hectares, inclusive of all land categories.

The estimated area composition of the estate is illustrated in the table and figure below. Productive plantations total 10,566 hectares. Cutover includes land destined for restocking. Unstocked gaps are generally grass/fernland and stand gaps. Most reserves are indigenous ecosystems.

Total CFG NZ Northern Region Estate area (ha) Gross area Net Stocked Area Cutover Reserves & Other Protected Ecosystems 12,046 9,562 1,004 1,141 339

Non-productive ‘Other’ areas include stocking gaps, roads and tracks, powerline corridors and other small unplanted areas.

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Estate profile The CFG NZ Northern Region estate is made up of 5 distinct forest blocks. The estate is predominantly Pinus radiata with an average age of the crop being 22 years with the majority of establishment of the current crop undertaken in the late 80s and 1990s. Harvesting is progressively being undertaken on stands that have reached maturity at a target age of 27 years. The timber grown in the Northland region is suited to structural end uses such as framing with relatively high density and stiffness and with small branching habits.

Current species The dominant species grown within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate portfolio is Pinus radiata (radiata pine). There are also small stands of minor species such as acacia, eucalyptus, poplar, and cypresses. As all forests were purchased as existing planted and often semi-mature stands, the current ownership has inherited the historical decisions of past management. Radiata pine had been selected to best meet the management objectives of the previous owners. Subsequently purchased by the current owners, these forests were acquired because they continued to meet the investment criteria of the new owners.

The current forested area by species composition is summarised in the figure below.

Percentage of estate area by species group

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Age class Apart from a few very small old-aged stands, the cumulative age-class distribution distribution for CFG NZ reveals a largely mature or semi mature crop with around 57% of the radiata pine crop area being 19 years of age or older. Approximately 10% of the crop is 25 years or older. The current age-class distribution for radiata pine in the CFG NZ Northern Region estate is summarised in the figure below.

Area / Age-class distribution within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate

Current crop Measurement data from the most recent inventory is stored in FIPS and status summarised in reports to provide the current status of the stands. Due to the large volume of data for this estate this information is not presented in detail, but refer to Section 10 - Commercial Crop Establishment and Silvicultural Operations for more detailed information regarding tending regimes.

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Productivity A standardised estimator of the productivity of a plantation site in NZ for indices radiata pine is the 300 index17. The average 300 Index for the CFG NZ forests ranges from 22.5 m3/ha/yr to 28 m3/ha/yr.

Site index, another productivity measure, sits between 30m to 36m by forest.

Average 300 Index by Average Site Index for each forest in the CFG NZ estate

17 A measure of productivity of a site based on stem volume growth (mean annual increment) of 300 stems per hectare.

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Carbon CFG NZ’s long-term strategy is to maintain or enhance the level of carbon sequestration sequestered within the forest estate. This may be achieved by: • Increasing stand productivity, through higher stocking density and faster growth; • Maintain or enhance total stocked area; • Protect natural native regeneration within reserves and unstocked areas; • Utilise a silviculture system that maximises quality crop volume; • Having an effective fire prevention and control strategy; • Using controlled burning as a management tool only where necessary to burn accumulated slash where it poses a significant environmental or safety risk. Carbon levels within the forest are monitored via a regular snapshot of expected carbon held within the estate. These estimates are based upon the estate yield model that is reviewed annually and provides the basis for conversion of standing volume estimates into carbon sequestration estimates using formulae recognised under the Climate Change Response Act 2002.

In order to incorporate visibility of the effects of forest management on the estate’s sequestered carbon, estimates of carbon will be monitored long term by way of the current estimate at the start of this five-year management planning period and a forecast five years hence based on the estate model standing crop forecasts five years hence. These calculations will be repeated every five years providing a basis for monitoring and will include estimates from native reserves existing or created within the estate. These calculations will capture changes due to fire, whether accidental or controlled.

CFG NZ Northern Region estate receives no direct benefit for carbon from forests within its estate under the Climate Change Response Act 2002 but Carbon leases exist in Houto and Mahoe forests (Appendix 4). However, as landowner of the freehold forests, CFG NZ is responsible for any deforestation liabilities should they exist at time of harvest. In the case of the various agreements (Leases / Forestry Rights), deforestation liabilities reside with the underlying landowner.

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Infrastructure Forest infrastructure includes roads, tracks, landings, bridges and culverts. Design specifications for these are outlined in the ‘PF Olsen Standard Specifications for Road and Landing Construction’.

Typically, infrastructure within an early- to mid-rotation age ‘greenfields’ forest is limited to access for a 4WD vehicle. During harvest planning, upgrades of existing roads/culverts/bridges and planning for new roads, landings, crossings will be identified and scheduled. The type of infrastructure designed and constructed is influenced by topography, harvest duration and intensity of use.

Once established, these require maintenance. The PF Olsen Asset Hazard Register is a GIS-linked database of forest assets that includes bridges, culverts and crossings under resource consent. This provides the framework for a record of the asset attributes, and its associated maintenance schedule, some of which are required under consent conditions.

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12. Commercial Crop Establishment and Silviculture

Introduction Forest operations are implemented to ensure a good quality crop and maximum growth. These operations include land preparation, establishment, weed control, pest and disease control, fire protection, pruning and thinning, and general property asset maintenance.

Forest The CFG NZ forest owners are committed to ensure that the CFG NZ forest management estate will be managed to: goals • Grow trees and produce logs for the manufacturing of different wood products in New Zealand and overseas with a focus on ‘fit for purpose’ log production; • Ensure that the productivity of the land does not decline; • Ensure that environmental values are identified and maintained; • Ensure that historic sites are identified and protected; • Ensure that other forest values and products are identified, protected and where possible enhanced; • Ensure that the forest estate’s contribution to carbon cycles is maintained or enhanced; • Harvest the trees as close as possible to their economic optimum age and achieve the best possible financial returns to the owners; • Replant following harvesting where agreements require; • Meet all statutory requirements and comply with forest industry best practice; • Provide recreational opportunities where practical; • Act as a good corporate citizen and neighbour; and • Ensure all forest management practices are consistent with the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council. These goals are further detailed in ‘PF Olsen Key Aspects- Objectives, Targets and Monitoring’ in Appendix 5.

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Crop species Radiata pine, when intensively managed, will produce a range of different log types suitable for various processing options and is the most common species processed in New Zealand. The pruned butt log can be used to make knot-free veneer or decorative timber. The unpruned logs can be used for structural timber, for veneer or for feedstock for finger jointing. Small logs and those with defects and excessive knots can be used for pulp and paper, MDF and other reconstituted wood products such as tri-board and particle board.

In New Zealand radiata pine is also the main focus in terms of research and development. Past research and development has resulted in improvements in growth, form and wood characteristics as well as development of a range of finished products, building codes and timber standards. Radiata pine and export markets are well developed for both finished products and logs.

Other species Tasmanian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) is a niche specialty timber with a high value but limited demand for furniture and appearance grades within NZ. Poplar is utilised mainly for lightweight boxing and pallet material and in some plywood facing applications mainly in the export market. Softwoods such as the various cypress species are used mainly for outdoor furniture, ceiling sarking and garden products. The various Eucalyptus species can be used for specialty grade timbers but require specialist knowledge to saw and dry the timber.

These minor species are currently not deemed to be of significant potential commercial value for the CFG NZ Northern Region estate. The development of the bio-fuels industry may in the future favour other species which will be assessed if markets develop.

Unwanted pine In the inland forests with deeper soils and more rain, vigorous regeneration spread of native species such as the shrub hardwood five finger, Gahania grass, along with weed species such as pampas and gorse will normally out compete most radiata pine that might naturally regenerate following harvest in newly created streamside setbacks. Some basic monitoring and if required regeneration pulling can be undertaken if required to maintain a native cover status.

In the coastal forests pampas is generally the main competing weed. The CFG NZ re-establishment programmes will include a spread risk assessment using the Wilding Spread Risk Calculator to inform decisions about replant boundaries and monitoring or other control strategies if required. There is no intention to plant or replant in other species with known high spread risk. The use of the Calculator is also a requirement under the NES-PF and this will be adhered to.

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Replanting The following factors determine whether a forest area is replanted by CFPC programme NZ after harvesting.

• Cutting Rights – The land is handed back to the underlying landowner in a plantable but unplanted state. • Crown Forest Licence (CFL) - Until such time as CFPG Ltd receive notice from the landowner that occupation of the land is to revert to the land owner , all harvested land is replanted and the crop owner will have a term of occupancy covering one rotation for the last area planted prio to the notice being executed. • Freehold - All harvested land is replanted, subject to minor boundary reallocations and rationalisations to improve the viability of future harvest. Replanting operations on those lands applicable are driven by the harvesting programme. Levels of replanting activity are anticipated as illustrated below.

Replanting associated with multi-rotational agreements

Pre- There may be situations arising from pre-harvest assessments, ecological or establishment archaeological surveys, post-harvest operational review or other activities, considerations including consultation with stakeholders, where small areas are retired from production after harvest for practical, safety, environmental or heritage reasons.

These situations will normally only become apparent during the planning phases ahead of harvesting and other operations.

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Establishment Re-establishment will aim to use high quality tree stocks suitable for the site methods and market. Appropriate species choices will be investigated at establishment. The current re-establishment regime involves a combination of: • Crushing or line raking felling debris/waste (where necessary) to enable planting access; • Spot mounding in heavy clays or wet sites; • Line ripping of compacted skid sites; • Aerial desiccation spraying of weeds (including naturally regenerated pines); • Oversowing if required with various species of legumes to facilitate nitrogen fixing, and temporary soil stability; • Planting with genetically improved radiata seedlings at 800-833 stems per hectare; • Fertilising those sites where required at planting; and • Spot releasing or aerial releasing where necessary to eliminate competition from weeds. Replanting, which is important for maintaining soil stabilisation functions of the forests, will follow harvesting as it occurs with only minor deviation for seasonal or operational reasons and boundary rationalisation.

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Tending The CFG NZ forested estate is subject to two main tending regimes. The application of these regimes is determined by market signals, site specific conditions and any historic precedents.

The predominant regime is an unpruned structural regime, with a pruned regime considered on flatter forest land in the Northland Forests. The basic regime is illustrated below with variation within the parameters driven by environmental gradients defined within the North Island of New Zealand.

Recently available technical information and tools are being applied to the harvesting, marketing and silvicultural decision processes to obtain the best value from these established or future crops. Framing Regime Year Operation Stems/ha Details 0 Plant 833 GF+ seedlings 8-9 Thin to Waste 450-550 Mean crop height 12m 25-27 Clearfell

Within the estate, there remain some young stands for which the decision to follow pruning regimes has already commenced and is committed to. In these cases, the regime will be maintained, subject to financial constraints, in accordance with the schedule below.

Clearwood Regime

Year Operation Stems/ha Details 0 Plant 833 GF+ seedlings 5-6 Prune 0-3.5m 317 Prune to 3.5m, min green crown 3.5m 6-8 Prune 3.5-5.5m 317 Prune to 5.5m, min green crown 3.5m 8-9 Thin to Waste 317 Mean crop height 11m 25-27 Clearfell

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Tree nutrition The clay rich soils in the Northland region are generally deficient in phosphorus which is essential for healthy tree growth. Other common nutrient deficiencies are likely to be: • Boron – Boron deficient trees can suffer dieback from the terminal buds and this symptom is closely associated with moisture stress and drought. Trees growing on the drier East Coast of both Islands and on the pumice soils of the Central North Island are prone to boron deficiency. • Magnesium – Magnesium deficiency is a particular problem of the Central North Island and is associated with the phenomenon known as mid crown yellowing where the middle of the tree crown turns a yellow colour. Heavily pruned trees and some seed lots are more predisposed to this deficiency than others. • Nitrogen – usually lacking in coastal sand forests. Foliar samples are taken if nutrient deficiency symptoms are seen or expected. Fertiliser will only be applied if the health and the growth of the trees are significantly affected or where economic analysis demonstrates a benefit.

Site productivity and tree nutrition are actively researched components of the industry research programmes of which PF Olsen is a financial contributor.

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13. Harvesting Strategy and Operations

Balancing the Determining optimal cutting strategy for the forest is carried out jointly by harvest vs. forest the TIMO and the Property Manager following a nested iterative process depicted below:

value

Client

Process

TIMO

Process Process

Process

Contractor

gr

erty M erty

Process

Prop

gr

erty M erty

Data Data

Prop

KEY KEY

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Harvesting The harvesting strategy employed by CFG NZ will be, within reason, to strategy harvest each stand at their optimum economic age, subject to specific market, environmental, operational, and employment continuity objectives influencing conditions at the time. This will result in a degree of deliberate ‘smoothing’ between the sharp peaks and troughs implied by a pure age- class driven strategy.

The markets for wood are cyclical and spreading the harvest over a longer period hedges the risk associated with fluctuations in market prices. On the other hand, the logistics of harvesting and the risk of windthrow associated with harvest boundaries demand relatively large areas to be harvested at once. The average optimum rotation length for the CFG NZ estate is currently forecast at 27 years over the next five years.

Despite the fluctuations in the age-class area distribution of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate (illustrated below), over the period of this plan and right though to 2036, harvesting is projected to enable a quite steady annual harvest of around 220,000 m3, subject to the issues raised above.

Projected harvestable area- radiata pine

The strategy will be reviewed regularly as more or new information arises, such as re-mapping, stand inventory, and research data. This will be used to provide a basis for forward projections on which to plan infrastructure, labour and market access issues as well as environmental and resource consent processes.

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Planning and With estate model derived schedules providing short and medium term preparing for forecasts from which operational budgets and activities are driven, the ideal harvest method to achieving an optimal harvesting solution in terms of the forest owner’s health and safety, environmental and commercial objectives is developed through the harvest planning process: Strategic (Paper) Plan (3-5 year horizon) This will involve a desktop assessment of harvest options to determine the: • preferred harvest system, • preliminary harvest area and setting boundaries, • preliminary road and skid layout, • consent and statutory risks and environmental requirements. Draft Harvest Plan (18 month horizon) The strategic harvest plan will be developed in detail and in consultation with contractors wherever possible, to produce a draft harvest plan to finalise: • the harvest area and setting boundaries, • the preferred logging system, including recommended rigging system (based on analysis of critical cable logging settings), • the road and skid layout, including any specific engineering (RoadEng or CAD/Civil 3D) designs for critical roads, • key operational requirements/conditions to ensure compliance with RMA/ statutory requirements and stakeholder consultation issues. • the preferred timing and sequence of road-line salvage, road construction and harvest operations. Final Harvest Plan and Prescriptions (2 month horizon) Detailed work instructions, in the form of a final harvest plan and prescription, will be provided for each of key operations (road-line salvage, road construction and clearfell harvest). These will reflect the agreements made with the contractors and include: • 1:5,000 scale planning maps (detailing harvest area and setting boundaries, road and skid layout, extraction lines/corridors, operational constraints and hazards), • Specific operational notes and instructions (project requirements), • Specific management plans (Traffic Management Plan, Power Line Management Plan, Archaeological Management Plan), • Specific design (RoadEng and CYANZ/CHPS Cable Analysis) • Resource consent conditions. Continued on next page...

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…continued The ideal sequence of steps described above and illustrated below can and does vary according to circumstances but is nevertheless the goal sought though implementation of PF Olsen’s management processes.

Strategic Harvest Plan 3-5-year horizon High level planning exercise to identify with reasonable certainty the harvest area boundary, preferred logging system, likely road and skid layout and key risks and issues that need to be addressed during the detailed planning stage.

Draft Harvest Plan

2-3 Year Horizon Preliminary Engineering Design Detailed planning exercise that tests previous assumptions and assesses Preliminary design of critical alternative harvest options. It roads and skids to confirm develops and refines the strategic constructability and viability of plan. Includes analysis of harvesting the proposed plan. This may also systems. It concludes with a draft include the design of bridges and plan for contractor / stakeholder culvert crossings. feedback and input.

Resource Consents & HNZ Authorities

Prepare and lodge resource consent and Heritage NZ Archaeological authorities as required for the project. These will typically be required for large scale earthworks and clearance of vegetation from steep slopes.

Harvesting a permitted activity permitted a Harvesting permitted are Works Engineering

Final Harvest Plan 12-18 month horizon Road-line salvage and engineering prescriptions issued 12-18 months ahead (aiming to complete forward roading 12 months ahead of clearfell). Detailed engineering design completed as required.

Forward Roading (Construction) Forward road construction to commence 12 – 18 months ahead of harvest, depending of seasonality risk. Aim to have construction completed 12 months ahead of harvest in forests with clay soils – can work to 6 months in pumice soils.

Harvest Ready Logging Crew Assigned

Clearfell Harvest Clearfell harvest prescriptions issued to harvesting contractors 2 months prior to harvest commencing. Minor adjustments made to infrastructure as agreed with clearfell contractors.

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Infrastructure The roading and other infrastructure work proposed for the areas to be harvested in the first year are detailed in the Annual Cutting Plan.

Forest infrastructure includes roads, tracks, landings, bridges and culverts. Design specifications for these are outlined in the ‘PF Olsen Standard Specifications for Road and Landing Construction’.

Typically, infrastructure within an early- to mid-rotation age ‘greenfields’ forest is limited to access for a 4WD vehicle. During harvest planning, upgrades of existing roads/culverts/bridges and planning for new roads, landings, crossings will be identified and scheduled. The type of infrastructure designed and constructed is influenced by topography, harvest duration and intensity of use.

Once established, these require maintenance. The PF Olsen Asset Hazard Register is a GIS-linked database of forest assets that includes bridges, culverts and crossings under resource consent. This provides the framework for a record of the asset attributes, and its associated maintenance schedule, some of which are required under consent conditions.

Land handback The process for land handback is unique to each individual forest legal agreement where relevant. They can involve quite a few steps and vary from block to block.

Contractor Prior to engaging a new contractor, a comprehensive review of the management contractor’s safety systems, safety record, systems of work organisation and equipment is carried out. With regard to crew configuration, where topography and terrain allows, mechanised felling, extraction and processing is a mandatory requirement. PF Olsen as the Property Manager must be satisfied on this review, regardless of the tendered price.

Upon appointment all new contractor crews undergo a comprehensive safety and environmental induction, while PF Olsen Ltd, in conjunction with its contractors and NorthTech, runs a comprehensive programme of training to ensure the workforce is competent for the work they are required to perform. These formal NZQA qualifications are supplemented periodically by internally run training courses including those on environmental matters.

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…continued All harvesting, engineering and silviculture contractors are subject to quarterly operational audits and random drug testing. A full safety systems audit is scheduled and carried out annually. Full crew re-inductions take place every 5 years.

Weekly crew visits and monthly (or fortnightly according to risk) KPI assessments including environmental audits pick up corrective actions and follow-up on those.

WorkSafe undertakes audits on an unannounced basis from time to time.

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14. Forest Inventory, Mapping and Forest Records

Inventory Forest growth and development is monitored through forest inventory. Forest inventories providing stand information are required at different times and for different reasons throughout the life of the rotation: • Pre-assessment: for silviculture rate setting and validating operational timing vs silvicultural targets; • Quality control: to check contractor’s performance and update stand records; • Mid-crop: to collect measurement inputs for growth modelling; • Pre-harvest inventory is scheduled for stands around age 24, to collect measurement data on the crop. This is used for harvest planning, marketing and revenue estimation. New technologies may see some of this information gathered and analysed using remote sensing in the future.

Mapping All mapping within the CFG NZ estate is in digital format and is constantly updated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) that is linked to FIPS. The GIS system spatially records a vast array of forest data, from stand and legal boundaries, to reserves, rivers, roads, infrastructure, topography and soils.

Accurate mapping also assists budgeting, planning, calculation of future revenue/tree crop value, calculation of payments, infrastructure location, and harvest planning.

New plantings are remapped from new aerial photography around age four (when the trees are visible on aerial photography) to accurately determine boundaries and areas and also around two years prior to harvesting to assist with harvest planning.

Forest records Detailed records of each stand’s silvicultural management history, productivity, inventory and other attribute data are compiled and maintained in a stand records database and Geographic Information System (GIS). These records form the basis for informing silvicultural scheduling, harvesting schedules and other management activity.

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Non-commercial Estate Management & Protection 15. Protected Forests, Habitats, Ecosystems and Species

Introduction Indigenous biodiversity management in or associated with exotic forests is a normal component of everyday forest management. Environmental certification systems place obligations upon the forest manager to be aware of and, where required, enact procedures to assist with the maintenance and protection of important biodiversity where they are able.

Exotic forests can and do provide a level of biodiversity, though this is often enhanced by natural forest ecosystem remnants embedded within the plantation matrix. These are often the most important contributor to the total of the productive landscape’s biodiversity. However, rare and threatened species can also be found associated with exotic forests and may require special attention for management.

Protected The protected ecosystems have been surveyed and recorded by vegetation ecosystems associations and ranked (Wildland Consultants Ltd18) on the basis of ecological criteria reflecting the area’s representativeness, rarity of species, size and connectivity, function and landscape values. Relative value in terms of the ‘ecological landscape’ (Section 4) also informs that process.

Management To further aid management and reporting, these associations have been classification broken down into their discrete geographic locations mapped and attributes recorded in a component of the land based records systems. The rankings have also been converted into a numeric scale that maintains the relative ecological status as applied by Wildlands but informs the system ‘protection categories’ that drive priorities for ecological management.

Actions are prioritised according to the ‘Protection Category’ status allocated to the areas from the inventory and classification undertaken. The management implications pertinent to each status are summarised in the table below. Prioritisation of work effort will also be based on the principle of ensuring successful and maintainable outcomes at limited scales as a priority over wide scale but marginally beneficial outcomes.

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18 Assessment of Ecological Values of Natural Areas in China Forestry Group Forests (Northern Region) 2017

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…continued Protected Ecosystems Management Categories

Primary Management Protection Category Activity Level Monitoring Objective Minimise non-essential Area- with adjacent Fire protection. damage, maintain area. stand assessments.

Passive Observe RPMS 3rd party arrangements Pests- to meet RPMS. obligations. re: pests, apply RPMS. General forest health survey. Protect from non- essential damage, Sample forest condition maintain area, maintain Fire protection. monitoring. function (where Limited practical). 3rd party arrangements Low level pest Observe RPMS re: pests, apply RPMS. monitoring where obligations. Associated maintenance relevant. Sample related pest control. fauna if relevant. Protect from all controllable damage, Fire protection. Area monitoring. maintain area and function. Forest condition Full Improve quality. Specific management. monitoring. Targeted pest control, Pest monitoring where Observe RPMS 3rd party arrangements relevant, related fauna obligations. re: pests. monitoring if relevant. As above, plus fencing, Special including High covenanting, co- As above, plus as Conservation Value Restoration if practical. management defined in any Forests. agreements and funding restoration agreement. where practical.

The tables below detail the areas in each protection category within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate, categorised by protective function and broad vegetation types.

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…continued

Protected Ecosystems Management Categories by function and area

Protective Category Forest Protective Function Special Full Limited Passive Grand Total Houto 33.1 8.6 16.6 28.6 86.9 Riparian Ecosystem 7.9 7.9 Terrestrial Ecosystem 30.7 8.6 16.6 20.7 76.6 Wetland Ecosystem 2.4 2.4 Mahoe 17.4 6.7 5.7 7 36.8 Riparian Ecosystem 7 7 Terrestrial Ecosystem 14.3 3.7 3 21 Wetland Ecosystem 3.1 3 2.7 8.8 Pouto 10.7 13 23.4 47.1 Terrestrial Ecosystem 10.7 13 23.4 47.1 Rototuna 419.7 68.3 34.3 62.3 584.6 Non Specific 1.1 1.1 Rare Species 20.7 20.7 Riparian Ecosystem 2 10.6 12.6 Terrestrial Ecosystem 13.7 54.1 58.8 126.6 Wetland Ecosystem 385.3 11.1 23.7 3.5 423.6 Waitangi 195.3 28.4 14.7 31 269.4 Rare Species 93.9 93.9 Riparian Ecosystem 11.4 11.4 Terrestrial Ecosystem 6.9 11 17.6 35.5 Wetland Ecosystem 94.5 28.4 3.7 2 128.6 Grand Total 665.5 122.7 84.3 152.3 1024.8

Dominant protected ecosystem vegetation types by ecosystem function

Dominant Ecosystem Function Broad Vegetation types Non Specific Rare Species Riparian Ecosystem Terrestrial Ecosystem Wetland Ecosystem Grand Total Houto 8.7 76.6 2.4 87.7 Adventive and exotic weeds & grasses 0.8 0.8 Lake /surface water wetland 2.4 2.4 Manuka/kanuka/BroadleavedHW 2.4 20.9 23.3 Podocarp/Hardwood 0.5 55.7 56.2 Semi-wetland Sedge & fernlands 5 5 Mahoe 7 21 8.8 36.8 Adventive and exotic weeds & grasses 0.5 0.5 Manuka/kanuka/BroadleavedHW 2.3 2.3 Podocarp/Hardwood 21 21 Semi-wetland Sedge & fernlands 4.2 8.8 13 Pouto 47.1 47.1 Manuka/kanuka/BroadleavedHW 47.1 47.1 Rototuna 1.1 20.7 12.6 126.6 423.6 584.6 Blechnum Bracken or dense tree fern fernlands 4.5 4.5 Duneland small leaved colonisers & grasses 67.5 67.5 Lake /surface water wetland 1.2 1.2 Leptospermum/coprosma/flax wetland 28.1 28.1 Leptospermum/shrub HW/kowhai/podocarp 13.7 13.7 Manuka/kanuka/BroadleavedHW 1.1 12.6 108.4 16.6 138.7 Semi-wetland Sedge & fernlands 20.7 307.1 327.8 Uncosolidated foredunes 3.1 3.1 Waitangi 93.9 13.1 35.5 130 272.5 Adventive and exotic weeds & grasses 1.7 1.7 Blechnum Bracken or dense tree fern fernlands 3 3 Broadleaved Hardwood Shrub&fernland 4.3 1.1 5.4 Leptospermum/coprosma/flax wetland 2.5 10.9 13.4 Manuka /Hardwoods 17.4 17.4 Manuka/kanuka/BroadleavedHW 4.1 4.1 Podocarp/Hardwood 7.6 7.6 Semi-wetland Sedge & fernlands 93.9 119.1 213 Warm lowland softwoods hardwoods 6.9 6.9 Grand Total 1.1 114.6 41.4 306.8 564.8 1028.7

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High FSC standards define categories of ecosystem functionality that are Conservation considered especially important for biodiversity conservation purposes. Value forests These are called ‘High Conservation Value’ forests (HCVF). Any such areas are to be identified and specific management strategies developed for any such areas.

The CFG NZ northern estate is distinctive in the very large areas of wetlands that occur within the commercial forests and the generally very good condition that they are in.

The Wildlands survey identified a total of 9 independent sites that conformed with one or more of the FSC definitions for HCVF. These are listed in the table below and specific plans for their management are contained in Appendix 7.

High Conservation Value Forests areas (ha) in the CFG northern estate HCV-Class Forest Ecosystem Function Unit code HCV1.2,HCV3 HCV3 Grand Total Rototuna 192.5 192.5 Rare Species 20.7 20.7 RTNA-SCRB-05 20.7 20.7 Wetland Ecosystem 171.8 171.8 RTNA-WETL-09 104.3 104.3 RTNA-WETL-18 67.5 67.5 Waitangi 154.5 154.5 Rare Species 93.9 93.9 WNGI-WETL-04 8.1 8.1 WNGI-WETL-05 20.6 20.6 WNGI-WETL-07 36.6 36.6 WNGI-WETL-09 7.1 7.1 WNGI-WETL-21 21.5 21.5 Wetland Ecosystem 60.6 60.6 WNGI-WETL-18 60.6 60.6 Grand Total 154.5 192.5 347

Conservation Waitangi forest is and Poutu forest (since transferred to Te Uri O Hau covenants Settlement Trust) was a ‘Crown Forest Licences’. As part of the licence conditions, ‘protective covenants’ (Appendix 4) were placed on a number of the areas defined as reserves in the preceding classifications. Where boundary discrepancies occur, the most conservative (largest area) boundary will be applied at the management level. There is also a QEII covenant in Houto forest covering a stand of tall lowland forest on the plantation margin.

One covenant in Waitangi forest also covers an area of plantation forest which is a refuge for the rare native fern Todea barbara. This area is protected as a “reserve” and will not be harvested.

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Water quality There is no specific water quality data available from the forests of the CFG NZ northern estate. Northland Regional Council has a network of sites monitored as part of the National Objective Framework under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 19. While the sites listed below are close to Houto, Mahoe and Waitangi forests respectively, the rivers at this point are large and have been traversing large catchments by the time they pass close to the forests, or in the case of Waitangi, are largely in a different catchment to the forest. Operations within the forests are expected to have negligible or no discernible impact upon the factors being measured at the current locations.

As most very small streams coming out of the forests of the CFG northern estate are either very small, non-existent or ephemeral (on the Pouto Peninsula), or pass through or contribute into wetland environments, efforts at detailed water quality monitoring within or at forest boundaries are unlikely to provide much beneficial information. Only a small headwater tributary of the Mangakahia in Mahoe forest could potentially provide explicit forest related data. Monitoring here prior to and through the harvesting phase will be considered. Elsewhere the focus will be on protecting wetlands and riparian margins from direct physical impacts.

Northland Regional Council Water quality monitoring results

Table 21 2014 water grades for Northland river monitoring sites Human health Ecosystem health indicator indicator Periphyton (Chla Northland Regional Land use Ammoniacal nitrogen toxicity (mg/L) Nitrate nitrogen toxicity (mg/L) E. coli /100 mL Site name mg/m2) Council MCI (REC) 1 year med. (2nd 1 year median 1 year max 1 year median 1 year 95th % 3 year max. 3 year mean contact)

A A A A ND B Mangakāhia at Titoki Pastoral 0.008 0.032 0.173 0.839 ND 100.49 100.4 A Mangakāhia at Twin A A A A C B Bridges Pastoral 0.011 0.023 0.07 0.311 172.1 117.04 333 B Waitangi at Waimate North A B A A B A Road Pastoral 0.013 0.063 0.36 0.515 70.61 128.88 259 A Waitangi at A A A A ND D Wakelins Pastoral 0.006 0.047 0.299 0.833 ND 62.9 94.6 A

19 http://consult-nrc.objective.com/portal/state_of_the_environment/soe2015/soe2015?pointId=d380231e10#section-d380231e10

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Management A standardised GIS-based stream classification system based on NIWA’s and riparian River Environment Classification (REC) has been used to develop a rationale setbacks for defining riparian management with a set of rules in the EMS that apply to operations occurring near the riparian corresponding with each stream category. The setback distances defined in these rules are also synchronised with the NES-PF. Categorisation of each stream reach is done by the physical characteristics of the reach, e.g. underlying geology, streambed slope, climate, and reach order.

It also provides the minimum set-backs upon establishment or re- establishment of forest after harvest where riparian setbacks had not existed before. The morphology of streams can mean that the minimum set back is wider in many instances. The stream categories within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate are summarised below. The total length of waterways within the forest estate is 156 kilometres. Under the Conservation Act – provision has also be made for 20m ‘Marginal Strips’ adjoining any streams >3m wide and lakes (see Appendix 4).

Length of stream by REC class and stream width.

Forest REC Class Houto Mahoe Pouto Rototuna Waitangi CFG Grand Total (m) - (km) Large_Low_Wet_Hard 727 725 802 2,254 2.25 Large_Low_Wet_Soft 1,978 692 2,670 2.67 Med_Low_Dry_Hard 5,864 8,914 14,778 14.78 Med_Low_Wet_Hard 1,221 1,617 57 312 3,770 6,978 6.98 Med_Low_Wet_Soft 731 168 3,072 3,970 3.97 Med_Mod_Wet_Hard 641 641 0.64 Small_Low_Dry_Hard 1,948 24,600 26,548 26.55 Small_Low_Dry_Soft 119 119 0.12 Small_Low_Wet_Hard 7,742 5,259 4,709 574 14,052 32,336 32.34 Small_Low_Wet_Soft 320 392 5,811 6,523 6.52 Small_Mod_Wet_Hard 560 560 0.56 VSmall_Low_Dry_Hard 5,326 40,859 46,185 46.18 VSmall_Low_Wet_Hard 1,083 6,244 4,051 453 11,831 11.83 VSmall_Low_Wet_Soft 350 350 0.35 VSmall_Mod_Dry_Hard 30 30 0.03 Grand Total 13,802 8,801 24,149 80,018 29,002 155,772 155.77

Large >3.0m Med 1.5-3.0m Small 0.75-1.5m V.small < 0.75m

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Rare and Surveys are undertaken for rare species where a range distribution suggests threatened the possibility of them existing. Any appropriate management responses are species devised in conjunction with conservation authorities. Protection requirements are also reassessed at the time of re-establishment or land handback where additions to riparian or buffering setbacks are often recommended.

Records of sightings and locations are collected and will be recorded in FIPS and the forest industry ‘Biodiversity in Plantations – Naturewatch’ website. Over time, this data has enabled the build-up of a spatial distribution picture of species within different geographical locations. A listing of key species of interest potentially encountered is issued to all contractors and staff along with species sighting forms and a request to report such information.

The Wildland Consultants Ltd ecological survey undertaken in preparation for this plan has listed known and probable species that may be located within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate. Seasonal and operational patterns mean that in some cases further survey work may be required.

Information as currently assessed by Wildlands is summarised in the sections following.

Fish Northland mudfish is present in some of the wetland areas of Waitangi Forest (Goodman et al. 2013, Wildlands 2013). Wildlands have been monitoring these populations on behalf of the Far North District Council to assess the ecological effects of the discharge from the Kerikeri wastewater treatment plant (Wildlands 2013, 2014, and 2016).20

Waitangi A search of the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database indicates that the following species are also present within the waterways of Waitangi Forest (threat classifications for fish and aquatic invertebrates are provided by Goodman et al. 2013 and Grainger et al. 2014, respectively): • Freshwater mussel (Echyridella menziesii; At Risk-Declining). • Shortfin eel (Anguilla australis; Not Threatened) • Kōura (Paranephrops planifrons; Not Threatened) • Freshwater shrimp (Paratya curvirostris; Not Threatened) • Banded kōkopu (Galaxias fasciatus; Not Threatened) is also present within the wetland complex (Wildlands 2016).

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20 Assessment of Ecological Values of Natural Areas in China Forestry Group Forests (Northern Region) Wildlands Consulting - Contract Report 4361a - October 2017

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…continued Mahoe Tributaries of the Mangakahia River flow through Māhoe Forest. A search of the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database indicates that the following species may be present within these tributaries (threat classifications provided by Goodman et al. 2013): • Lamprey (Geotria australis; Threatened-Nationally Vulnerable) • Longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii; At Risk-Declining) • Inanga (Galaxias maculatus; At Risk-Declining) • Torrentfish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri; At Risk-Declining) • Shortfin eel (Anguilla australis; Not Threatened) • Banded kōkopu (Galaxias fasciatus; Not Threatened) • Cran’s bully (Gobiomorphus basalis; Not Threatened) • Grey mullet (Mugil cephalus; Not Threatened) • Kōura (Paranephrops planifrons; Not Threatened).

Rototuna Black mudfish (Neochanna diversus; At Risk-Declining) has been recorded in the Tangitiki Estuary, one of only two sites where the species has been recorded in Kaipara Ecological District (Smale et al. 2009). Two arms of the estuary extend into Rototuna Forest.

Longfin eel, giant kōkopu (both At Risk-Declining), freshwater mussel (At Risk-Declining), common bully, shortfin eel, and freshwater have been recorded in Lake Karaka (NZFFD; Crow and Jellyman 2004), part of which lies within the forest boundaries. This is the only record for giant kōkopu in Northland (Smale et al. 2009).

The upper reaches of Waimamaku Stream extend into Rototuna Forest. This waterway has records for inanga (Galaxias maculatus; At Risk-Declining), redfin bully (Gobiomorphus huttoni; At Risk-Declining), shortfin eel, and freshwater shrimp (NZFFD).

Houto The Paerata Stream and Ohutoroa Stream (which are tributaries of Wairua River) flow through Houto Forest. A search of the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database indicates that the following species may be present within these tributaries: • Banded kōkopu • Īnanga • Freshwater shrimp.

The invasive mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) has also been recorded in Paerata Stream.

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…continued Operationally, PF Olsen uses the Freshwater Environments of New Zealand (FWENZ) models to inform the potential for threatened fish species that may be present in streams affected by operations and if necessary any response to such a presence. The Fish Spawning Indicator published by NIWA to accompany the NES-PF will also be used to inform requirements in respect of timing of operations, particularly for works over/in stream beds in relation to the spawning of threatened species.

Other primary management actions in relation to fish are: • Development and maintenance of a register of crossings and an inspection routine to ensure fish passage, • Sound design and construction of all new stream crossings, • Timing of in-bed crossing construction to avoid peak spawning period, • Minimising damage to streamside environments and provision of setbacks where they were not originally present, • Identification of, and avoidance and/or buffering of waterbodies during aerial spraying for replanting and Dothistroma control or aerial fertilisation if ever required, • Protection of wetlands identified within the plantation matrix, • Consultation with conservation expertise before any earthworks or drainage undertaking in areas that might be associated with mudfish.

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Avifauna Of the forest birds, many of the more common species listed can be expected to be regularly within or transient through the CFG NZ Northern Region forests. For a complete list of bird species likely to be encountered see Appendix 8.

The several large wetland areas providing habitat for wetland birds are of most significance within some forests, as well as the possibility and actual presence of kiwi in Houto and Waitangi forests. Low numbers of brown kiwi were recorded as recently as 2008 in the Paerata Wildlife Management Reserve (P07/055) adjacent to Waitangi forest (Goldwater et al. 2009).

Many wetland bird species are threatened due to the large scale draining of wetland areas that has occurred throughout New Zealand since European colonisation. ‘Threatened’ and ‘At Risk’ wetland birds previously recorded in the vicinity of the forests include:21 • Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) • Grey duck (Anas superciliosa) • North Island fernbird • Banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis assimilis) • Spotless crake • Little black shag (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) • Australasian shoveler (Anas rhynchotis) • Grey teal (Anas gracilis) • Paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata) • White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

Primary management actions in relation to avifauna are: • Adherence to industry protocols developed for management of NZ falcon and kiwi. Pre-operational surveys will be required ahead of land disturbance operations where kiwi populations are possible. • Inclusion of threatened species sightings into the PF Olsen sightings database, and subsequently into the NZ Forest Owners NatureWatch – Biodiversity in Plantations Project22, • Minimising damage to natural forest areas and any small wetlands and scrublands during harvest and reforestation, particularly any gully systems that already form natural corridors through the larger plantation areas, • Promotion of the development of improved riparian corridors after harvest, • Co-operation where relevant with any community based vertebrate pest control initiatives.

21 Assessment of Ecological Values of Natural Areas in China Forestry Group Forests (Northern Region) Wildlands Consulting - Contract Report 4361a - October 2017 22 http://naturewatch.org.nz/projects/biodiversity-in-plantations

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Bats There are records of both long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus; Threatened-Nationally Critical) and Northern lesser short-tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata aupourica; Threatened-Nationally Vulnerable) in Puketi Forest, approximately 18 kilometres to the west of Waitangi Forest (DoC Bat Database records, O’Donnell et al. 2017). Waitangi Forest provides potential habitat for long-tailed bats so this species could be present 16.

Māhoe Forest provides potential habitat for long tailed bats, which have been recorded approximately 19 kilometres to the west in Northern Waipoua Forest (DoC Bat Database record). Long-tailed bats may also be present within Māhoe Forest. There are records of long-tailed bats at Moengawahine, near Pipiwai, approximately 15 kilometres to the north (DoC Bat Database record, 1980). This species may also be present at Houto Forest.

There are records of long-tailed bats (Threatened-Nationally Critical) on the Pouto Peninsula between Waimamaku and Tangatiki Creeks, either adjacent to or within Rototuna Forest (DoC Bat Database record, 1995). Rototuna Forest is within the home range span - the distance from one edge to the other of a bat’s home range - of bats at this location and consequently long-tailed bats should be considered as present within the forest itself.

Primary management actions in relation to bats are: • The forest industry currently has draft protocols for management of bats in plantation forests. Once published, these will underpin management actions. • Bat detection boxes will be deployed around the forests in a prioritised programme with the aim of establishing those parts (if any) of the plantation forests that may harbour bats. The immediate focus will be to get ahead of the future harvesting programme where bats may be present. Detections if any, will be recorded in the NatureWatch database and the Department of Conservation consulted.

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Herpetofauna A desktop review via a search of the Bioweb Herpetofauna database has identified the following species which have been recorded within the geographic locale of the CFG NZ Northern Region forests23. • Northland green ( grayii; At Risk-Declining) • Moko skink (Oligosoma moco; At Risk-Relict) • Pacific gecko (Dactylocnemis pacificus; At Risk-Relict) • Shore skink (Oligosoma smithi; At Risk-Relict) • Raukawa gecko (Woodworthia maculata; Not Threatened) • Copper skink (Oligosoma aeneum; Not Threatened) • Forest gecko (Mokopirirakau granulatus; At Risk-Declining) • The invasive plague skink (Lampropholis delicata) is also likely to be present.

Most NZ lizard species are now threatened, principally due to predation but also habitat loss. The desktop review based on past recorded sightings confirmed a possibility for to be present in or around most forest areas. Past sighting records indicated a potential for nine lizard species (of which six had a threat classification) to be found within the Ecological Districts within which the CFG NZ Northern Region forests are located.

The wide range of habitat specialisation by some lizards and the highly various ecosystems across the CFG NZ Northern Region estate suggests a presence of lizards within the actual plantation boundaries.

Primary management actions in relation to Lizards will be: • Expansion of the initial desktop work to a limited scope review of the habitats within forest areas subject to operations most likely to harbour species potentially at risk from the proposed operations. • Test surveys for presence / absence. • Development of an ongoing management approach based on outcomes from the steps above. • Conformation of any programme development with industry protocols for management of lizards (Currently in development).

23 Assessment of Ecological Values of Natural Areas in China Forestry Group Forests (Northern Region) Wildlands Consulting - Contract Report 4361a - October 2017

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CITES species CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments.

Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild, and it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 34,000 species of animals and plants.

The full list of New Zealand CITES listed species are available in the EMS, or online at http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/role/international/endangered- species/cites-species/nz-cites-listed-species/ .

Anticipated In line with the prioritisation approach described previously, key areas of management work related to protected ecosystems and biodiversity over the next 5 years activities within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate are expected to be: • Commencement and continuation of pre-operational surveys of potential high priority areas to establish presence of rare or threatened species, kiwi and bats. Implementation of appropriate protection of key sites if they are found within the CFG NZ estate. • Contribution and co-operation with DoC and other relevant organisations toward management of kiwi in CFG NZ forests. • Commencement of a programme to establish the potential for, presence of and options for management of lizards within the CFG NZ northern estate. • Implementation of the HVC management plans as documented in Appendix 7, including contribution and co-operation with conservation agencies or projects if applicable for restoration projects for key HCVF wetland areas within the CFG NZ estate. • Removal of wildings from wetlands and more significant riparian areas. • Expansion of riparian setbacks and natural forest corridors where appropriate and able to deliver enhanced future environmental outcomes. • Co-operation with neighbours on pest / weed control. • Representative vegetation condition monitoring.

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Ecological The section on ‘Reserves by ecological_district identified that some forests equivalence currently do not meet the FSC standard thresholds for reserves.

Under the FSC NZ Standard shortfalls in reserve area can be made up by an ‘ecological equivalence’ investment into other protected ecosystems within the estate, or in other parts of the estate in other Ecological Districts or in other party’s lands within the Ecological District.

In the Kaipara ED, the reserve area shortfall is entirely due to the lack of reserve area in Pouto forest. However, Pouto forest is a Crown Forestry Licence with all land being handed back to the underlying Iwi landowners. With between 1 and 2 years of harvest remaining, few existing reserves areas and few options to ‘create’ reserves within this forest, the preferred management response will be to transfer an ‘ecological equivalence’ effort to the adjacent Rototuna forest through the undertaking of weed control within two sets of non-HVCF wetlands.

In the Tangihua ED the area based shortfall in Houto forest is a mere 6 ha while in the adjacent Tutamoe ED (Mahoe forest) the deficit amounts to 29 ha. As adjacent ED’s the management response will be to focus all effort in the Hout_PRIF-05 stand. This area of forest is diverse lowland softwood hardwood forest, is partially fenced and the value of the existing partial fence in protecting the forest health and structure relative to the potion within adjacent private farmland is clear.

The ‘ecological equivalence’ monetary value has been benchmarked and calculated against the average annual spend by the Department of Conservation reported in their 2016 annual report. A similar level on a per hectare basis will be committed to these projects.

Project areas proposed to achieve ecological equivalence under FSC standards. Ecological Forest Compliance Shortfall (ha) Equivalence project areas. District insufficiency Kaipara Pouto 5% by forest 9.8 ha Undertake weed control in Rototuna &10% by ED 49 ha Wetl 06, and or weed control in Rototuna Wetl 13 & 20. Tangihua Houto 10%/ED 6 ha Start programme to fence Hout_PRIF 05 - 11.6ha Tutamoe Mahoe 10% /ED 28.5 ha Contribute to costs in Hout _PRIF 05 above

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16. Property Management and Protection

Statutory pest Pest management within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate is subject to obligations statutory obligations under the Northland Regional Pest Management Strategy 2010 -2015 administered by the Northland Regional Council.

The strategy applies to both pest plants and animals and categorises them, in terms of management objectives. The categories, objectives and land owner obligations are summarised in Appendix 9 for each Regional Pest. The plan is maintained online by the Northland Regional Council. The Northland Regional Pest Management Strategy is currently being reviewed.

The CFG NZ Northern Region estate is monitored for key diseases as part of the National Forest Health Surveillance System.

Plant pests The overall objective in managing plant and animal pests is to: • Meet statutory obligations under the Northland Regional Pest Management Strategy, • Reduce their direct impacts on both plantations and indigenous biodiversity values, • Ensure that any impacts on neighbouring properties are promptly dealt with, • Monitor the abundance and distribution of these species within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate.

The major plant species potentially threatening production values within the plantation forests are various grasses, gorse, broom, buddleia, pampas, blackberry and wilding conifers and acacia.

Competition from colonising weeds will limit tree growth in their first few years after establishment. Control of these plant pests involves chemical control.

Grasses, gorse, broom, buddleia, pampas, blackberry, tobacco weed and wilding conifers all threaten indigenous biodiversity in open communities where they can displace native species by outcompeting and smothering them, however gorse can also act as a nurse crop in some areas for native regeneration. Gorse and pampas, and is very common in the CFG NZ Northern Region estate.

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Animal pests A range of animal pests are present in the CFG NZ Northern Region estate. All vertebrate pests threaten biodiversity values, and many threaten production values. The table below lists the vertebrate pests known to be present or potentially threatening the estate.

The main animal pest of production significance in the CFG NZ Northern Region estate is the introduced possum. Possums attack the growing tips of both plantation and native trees, causing stem malformation and die back. Possums are also a threat to neighbouring property owners who are farmers as they can carry and spread tuberculosis to domestic stock. Possums also impact on the biodiversity of indigenous areas through selective browsing of indigenous flowers and fruit as well as being predators of invertebrates and native wildlife young and eggs.

Other pests include rabbits and hares at the time of crop establishment, and goats and rogue livestock during the first half of the crop rotation when the bark is soft and palatable. These pests also browse on indigenous vegetation.

Mustelids, cats and rats impact on the indigenous biodiversity within the forests. They feed on native birds and larger invertebrates as well as plant seeds.

A complete list of known and potential vertebrate pests that may inhabit the CGF NZ Northern Region estate and their status under the Northland Regional Pest Management Strategy is shown in Appendix 9.

Insects and Diseases, which can affect the forest trees and adjacent native vegetation, fungal disorders are monitored throughout the year by the forest manager, and once a year by a professional independent forest health assessor. Most diseases cause little damage and do not require control.

Diseases that can impact on the growth, productivity and health of radiata pine and minor species grown within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate are listed in the following table.

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…continued Fungal disorders of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate (known and potential)

Production Biodiversity Common name Disorder symptoms Scientific name Host species threat threat Leader dieback, crown Diplodia Sphaeropsis sapinea Pinus radiata wilt and whorl canker Dothistroma Needle blight Dothistroma pini Pinus radiata Cyclaneusma Needle cast Cyclaneusma minor Pinus radiata Red Needle Cast/Physiological Needle blight Pinus radiata Needle Blight Armillaria Mortality Armillaria spp Pinus radiata Septoria leaf blight Defoliation Phaeophleospora eucalypti Euc. Spp Mycosphaerella Defoliation Mycosphaerella spp Euc. Spp Swiss Needle Cast Needle cast Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii Douglas-fir

There are a number of potential invertebrate pests that occur within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate, but none currently cause serious commercial problems within the radiata crop.

Invertebrate pests of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate (known and potential)

Common name Scientific name Production threat Biodiversity threat Paropsis Paropsis charybdis Bark beetle Hylurgus ligniperda Wasps Vespula spp Wood wasp Sirex noctilio

Pest control Plant pests When controlling plant pests, chemicals are applied in keeping with all legislative and safety requirements and with industry best practice. Herbicides are used to desiccate most harvested areas prior to re- establishment to reduce weed competition. Re-established trees are also released with another chemical application where necessary during the first one to two years after establishment.

Control of weeds within the HCVF areas will require much more targeted approaches involving ground based plant specific spraying or granular applications, drill or cut and swab / fill plant treatments, or potentially aerial basal /stem spot treatments.

A bio-control weevil (Cleopus japonicus) which has gradually spread across the country is proving to offer some control against Buddleia. Its full efficacy will not be known for some years.

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…continued Animal pests Animal pests are controlled using shooting, trapping or toxins, especially prior to establishment and in the first few years of a tree’s life. Only licensed operators are used for toxin control and all legal requirements are enforced. Permits are issued to private/recreational hunters on occasion and these permits require that kill returns be completed after hunting to provide information on animal densities, location and health.

The forest manager will co-ordinate operations with organisations such as the local Regional Council and Department of Conservation to achieve effective and efficient control within the forested area and on neighbouring land where required.

Control of mammalian predators of threatened native species is a massive task at an uncontrolled ‘landscape scale’. However, a number of the HVCF wetland ecosystems will over the course of the first rotation end up with much improved peripheral access. As this develops and as the technologies for trapping improve, the ability to achieve localised depression of predators becomes more realistic. Actions to achieve this will be implemented over time.

Fungal pests Dothistroma pini is the most commonly occurring fungal disorder within the radiata pine plantation. This fungus is controlled using an aerially applied copper-based fungicide spray, but only when the infection reaches a critical level.

Dothistroma pini infection can also be controlled through silviculture by timely thinning and pruning operations, which increases air movement and lowers humidity levels.

No control is currently completed on the other fungal disorders.

Chemical control All chemical applications are managed in accordance with PF Olsen EMS, the NZ Standard for agrichemical application, HSNO regulations and the obligations conferred by FSC to manage and minimise the use of chemicals including use of alternatives where available and to manage stakeholder expectations.

As part of the FSC commitment: • All chemical usage is tracked by active ingredient and application area to enable reporting and monitoring of trends and is reported on an annual basis.

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…continued • PF Olsen is an active participant in research into chemical reduction, efficacy and safety issues related to the ‘restricted use’ derogations applied by FSC to various activities pursuing biological control agents. • No chemicals classified by FSC as ‘Highly Hazardous’ are used other than under the terms of any derogations applied by FSC.

Fire prevention With the weather patterns normally experienced in the Northland region and control during the period late spring/summer, fire can be a real threat to the forest. This can be minimised by: 1. Having an effective fire plan and rural fire control organisation; 2. A close link with the relevant fire authorities, and an understanding of equipment and trained manpower requirements; 3. Active prevention measures which include restrictions on allowable access, fire prevention signage, publicity when fire danger prevails, access to adequate water sources, and if required constructing and maintaining firebreaks; 4. Effective fire reporting communications systems, mapping, and fire plan alert procedures; 5. Good forest management that recognises the influence of terrain, roading network and accessibility, and fuel build-up from silvicultural practice that will influence fire prevention and control measures.

Fire authority Under the newly legislated Fire Emergency New Zealand Act (FENZ) which responsibilities came into existence on the first of July 2017 the legal responsibility for fighting forest fires in the Northland Region lies with Northland Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).

Northland FENZ is responsible for administering and managing fires in rural areas of Northland. The FENZ Principal Rural Fire Office is specifically responsible for controlling vegetation fires. It also monitors the fire danger, declares restricted and prohibited fire seasons and issues fire permits.

A regional ‘fire plan’ still exists and the maintenance of good communication relative to potential risks and fire danger ratings.

In the event of a fire that starts within the forest, Northland FENZ is responsible for attending and providing the resources to extinguish the fire. FENZ is funded via insurance and landowner levy to cover equipment and firefighting costs.

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Public liability It is normally recommended that a forest owner obtain public liability insurance insurance cover to indemnify against unforeseen adverse activity both within the forest area and adjoining land tenure.

CFG NZ hold public liability insurance for their managed estate.

PF Olsen as management agency also carries comprehensive insurance against such issues and all contractors working in the forests must also maintain a level of cover approved by PF Olsen. Provision of regular verification of currency of policies is required.

Fire insurance Now FENZ is existence the Forest and Rural Fires Act was repealed. This has negated the need for a Forest and Rural Fire cover extension to public liability insurances. With regard to the location of the forests and the high public activity around the fringes, there will always be the potential for fire. If fires are deliberately lit, cost recovery by FENZ will occur. A major fire may cost many thousands of dollars to extinguish, with the main costs being the use of heavy machinery, helicopters, and manpower CFG NZ carry crop insurance cover.

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Other Benefits from the Forest 17. Recreation, Forest Products and Other Special Values

Introduction Forest plantations can provide non-timber forest products, recreational opportunities and special values that enhance the economic wellbeing of the owner or legitimate forest users. Non-timber products are an important means of maximising the production capacity of the forest whilst maintaining environmental and social values. The forest management plan provides procedures for developing and managing these resources.

Recreational Public usage of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate, as organised groups and usage clubs, as commercial or non-commercial events or as individuals, is provided for subject to operational and safety constraints, landowner requirements, and Iwi controls in respect of existing ‘customary rights’ and existing public access rights.

Access rights other than on the designated public access areas, is controlled through a permit system; though this control is sometimes delegated, in part, to affiliated Iwi to facilitate some protection of customary right usage of their lands or Waahi Tapu.

Primary requirements in management of such forest usage are: • Access subject to non-conflict with current operations and any other safety requirements, • Acceptable fire danger status, • Access provided to defined areas other than those freely open to the public, • Appropriate liability and fire insurance to be carried by permittees, • Forest usage rules to be adhered to.

Firewood collecting and hunting are the main reasons for permits being issued to individual recreational users over this time. However, events run by some organisations or blanket permits to some clubs ( e.g Mountain biking in Waitangi forest), while amounting to only a few permits per year, accommodate several hundred participants per event or year and total the largest number of actual users of the forests.

Forest usage numbers and trends will be monitored and published on the PF Olsen website in aggregate with other FSC Group Scheme member forests. The forest will continue to be open for legitimate use subject to the permit system.

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Te Araroa trail A short section of the Te Araroa trail passes through the Waitangi forest. This is designated public access not subject to permitting and will account for a permanent level of continued recreational use. Careful management of safety issues in consultation with the trail management will be required when forestry operations are conducted nearby.

Grazing Grazing of stock within some forest areas can be useful for partial weed control and reduction in fuel build up as well as assisting local farmers and earning a minor additional forest income. Conversely uncontrolled grazing can lead to contamination of waterways, damage to indigenous forest remnants, introduction of weeds and damage to streamside habitat.

Currently, no grazing is being carried out in the CFG NZ Northern Region estate, but this could change in the future. Any grazing future licensing would be subject to complete protection of waterways and indigenous ecosystems by ‘reserve standard’ fencing.

Waahi Tapu sites There are currently 437 Waahi Tapu sites (HCV 6) known to be located within the CFG NZ Northern Region estate. These sites are as listed below

Forest Pouto Rototuna Waitangi Total 6 414 17 437 Known sites

Any land disturbance activities around known sites must be covered by Heritage NZ Authorities that allow for certain activities to be undertaken on and around some sites. Appendix 2 lists current HNZ Authorities covering current and some future operational areas.

HCV 6 areas are critical to local Māori communities’ traditional cultural identity. HNZ legal process requires consultation with the relevant Iwi prior to the granting of Authorities. As such, close involvement with Iwi will occur prior to operations to establish mutually appropriate management actions.

Protective covenants also apply to some specifically identified adjacent sites.

There are likely to be more sites known and unknown that will be identified prior to and during harvesting operations. If and when additional areas of special value or cultural significance are identified, discussions will be held with the interested parties / iwi prior to any operations commencing or in respect of other management issues that may need to be addressed such as controlled or restricted access.

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Duneland soil Covenants exist within Pouto forest requiring the retention of suitable conservation leeward vegetation along the coastal margins to protect the inland areas from mobile sand encroachment.

Non-timber The primary commercial non- timber (timber and pulp) uses arising from the forest products forests are: • Sites for apiarists. • Licensed commercial firewood dealers. • Permitted collections of pine cones for community fundraising events. • Carbon leases exist in Houto and Mahoe. • An access easement for water takes for a neighbouring farm exists in Houto. • Under their respective Acts, specific clauses reserve Mineral, petroleum and geothermal Rights to the Crown in Mahoe forest. None of the above products hold any forest certification status.

Community Licences exist for the occupation and use of part of the Waitangi forest for infrastructure the local effluent management infrastructure.

Research trials The original Crown Forestry Licences made provision for notice to be served to Scion Research Ltd when harvesting is planned for areas containing forest trials in Pouto forest.

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Environmental Forests can deliver numerous social and environmental products, both and social cost- positive and negative to varying degrees. These non-timber products can be benefit analysis difficult to quantify, unlike financial costs and benefits.

The table below rates the relative positivity and negativity of the more common social and environmental products produced relative to the most likely alternative primary production system, pastoral dry stock farming. A more detailed analysis of provisioning and consuming services is shown in Appendix 6.

Environmental and social cost-benefit analysis

Increasingly negative Neutral Increasingly positive Environmental or social product -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 Soil stabilisation HP ✓ Erosion/soil loss HP MR Water quality HP MR Riparian shading HP MR Water quantity HP MR Carbon sequestration HP MR Native wildlife habitat ✓ Threatened fauna ✓ Native fish HP ✓ Air quality HP MR Native reserve protection ✓ Landscape/visual HP MR Recreation HP MR Commercial forest use ✓ Firewood MR HP Local employment MR HP NB: where the ratings differ throughout a rotation, ‘MR’ is used to indicate the mid rotation (growing) stage of the forest, and ‘HP’ refers to during or post-harvest.

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Other special In the regional landscape context, the CFG NZ Northern Region plantations values and indigenous ecosystems in combination provide well-defined ‘environmental services’. These are shown in Appendix 6, but include: • Enhanced water quality, and buffering of regionally significant water bodies from agricultural and urban generated nitrification; • Soil stabilisation and conservation; • Providing a buffer against flooding during storms; • Temperature moderation in waterways for maintenance of aquatic life including threatened native species; • Enhance wildlife and plant habitat leading to increased biodiversity; • Expanded habitat opportunities for some declining and or threatened fauna; • Carbon sequestration and buffering of the effects from a nationally adverse carbon generation footprint. In recent times, some of these environmental services have acquired quantifiable and significant financial value (nitrogen and carbon in particular). However, the value of these services under present regulatory environments is often being assigned as property rights to the polluters rather than the forest owners creating a disincentive to forestry.

Over the term of this plan, the regulatory environment will continue to be actively monitored and where possible efforts made to secure the introduction of properly structured market mechanisms to ensure forestry is not dis-incentivised, relative to other land uses.

Other environmental services will continue to be supplied or enhanced on the basis of good corporate citizenship and responsible environmental management.

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Public access There are some roads and marginal strips that are within or adjacent to the roads boundaries of some of the forests. These routes remain open to public, subject to any temporary closures, organised through the local Territorial Authority, required for safety such as during times of high fire risk or forestry operations. All signage must be followed and those using the routes will still require a permit if there is any intention to access the forest from the road routes.

Short sections of the Te Araroa trail also shares a boundary and a road with Waitangi forest.

These public road locations are publicly viewable in the Walking Access Commission website24. Any users are expected to abide by the Outdoor Access Code25 published by the Walking Access Commission.

24 https://www.wams.org.nz/wams_desktop/index.html 25 http://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/walkways-and-access/outdoor-access-code

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Looking Ahead 18. Monitoring

Introduction To ensure that the management objectives identified in this plan are being achieved, various monitoring exercises outside normal operations management have been developed. Monitoring results are summarised and reported as and when required and are also, where appropriate, made publicly available through the PF Olsen webpage.

Values Management inspections are undertaken regularly during operations and monitored periodically between times to monitor all aspects of the forest growth, health and conditions. The findings of the inspections are detailed and, where appropriate summarised on the PF Olsen FSC website. Specific monitoring related to certification as applicable to CFG NZ estate is tabulated below. While the broader suite of monitoring relevant to key aspects of performance is illustrated in Appendix 5.

Environmental Process Monitoring Framework Monitored Include Components Data Source Data medium Reporting / Element  Website Chemical usage  A.I usage/ Area overuse operations FIPS On demand / supervisors Form annual Consultation  Complaints/ other operations FIPS Annual / activity interaction supervisors & Form/ meeting annual planners minutes Environmental  Incident number operations Noggin / Tablet On demand / incidents / categories supervisors annual Environmental  All Env Management Meeting Annual Goals Group Minutes Flora & fauna  Species & Status operations FIPS /Form On demand / frequencies/ new finds supervisors, Naturewatch/ annual public, crews electronic Forest estate  Plantation area / age- management FIPS stand On demand / structure class/ species/forest plans/stand records annual type/protection status records Protected ecosystem area/forest type/protection status Forest growth  PSP protocols / periodic contractors Volume Periodic- inventory. ISO 9001 reconcilit’ns annual – not /Estate model on web Continued on next page...

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…continued Monitored Include Components Data Source Data medium Reporting / Website Element  frequency Forest health  Disease & health NFH document Periodic-annual, not surveillance on web program26 Forest Rights  Agreement compliance Reports documents Annual FSC membership  Block/ location/name Certifying Body Certificate On demand / annual Health and safety  LTI / MTI /TIFR operations Noggin / Monthly/ annual statistics accidents & incidents supervisors Tablet & initiatives Internal FSC Audit  Frequency * category Auditors(ees) Noggin Annual / annual CAR activity Ops Supervisors Internal Audit CAR  Frequency * category Auditors(ees) Noggin Continual – not on activity Ops Supervisors web Log production  Total logs/ FSC Cert log dockets at Woodtrack On demand / annual harvest Operational  Audit trends/cause operations FIPS / Monthly / annual monitoring analysis supervisors Form Pests  RTC / kill returns or Contractors/ FIPS Annual/ where other supervisors/ ‘Trap NZ’ relevant permitees Protected  Condition trends/ Contractors/ Spreadsheet Bi-annual if ecosystem photopoint supervisors restoration initiated condition monitoring High Conservation  Condition Contractors/ Spreadsheet Annual Value forests trends/photopoint supervisors monitoring/drone survey / pest kills / Recreational &  Permits issued Branch offices / FIPS Annual / annual non-timber Forest security Resource consents  Number/compliance operations FIPS monthly / annual planners Stream monitoring  Clarity +/- other Supervisors/ Various Operational/ specific. Contractors/ Mangakahia (Mahoe) Environmental  Courses, numbers, Staff FIPS Annual / & individual training names NZQA Client satisfaction  Post-operation client clients Survey form Post-operational survey /annual Social survey  Demographics, values, contractors Survey form 3 yearly work conditions

26 Forest health inspections are undertaken annually, by an independent specialist forest health assessor, through the NZ Forest Owners Association forest health scheme.

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Financial Budget versus expenditure is monitored through CFG NZ systems and consolidated in monthly, quarterly and annual reports and periodic review meetings or when requested. This information is not made public.

Social Consultation with stakeholders is undertaken and constant feedback from these stakeholders (and others as they become apparent) is monitored. This includes actions undertaken to resolve disputes and issues, monitoring of externally generated complaints and Client Satisfaction Surveys. Consultation occurs during resource consent applications, annual and periodic meetings with many agreement partners, contributions to Council processes and interactions with forest recreational users.

Other monitoring Operational standards and practice Other operational standards are monitored through a variety of concurrent and post operational assessment procedures that cover all operations from planting to harvesting and log production.

This information which includes log manufacturing quality performance, safety performance and other private or commercially sensitive is not made public.

Budget and physical programme versus expenditure and forecast Also monitored and reported monthly through various CFG NZ systems concurrently with all operations. This information is not made public.

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19. Industry Participation and Research

NZFOA and FGLT CFG NZ’s primary means of participating as part of the forest owner community, and to gain industry intelligence and access to research findings is via: • Membership of New Zealand Forest Owners’ Association Inc. (NZFOA) http://www.nzfoa.org.nz/and representation through its Property Manager on the Executive Board and working committees of NZFOA. • Payment of a commodity levy (currently 27 cents/tonne or JAS) to the Forest Growers’ Levy Trust (FGLT). http://fglt.org.nz/. The FGLT uses these funds to finance pan-industry good programmes and contracts NZFOA to carry out this work.

Research A little over 50% of the funds raised by FGLT are allocated to forestry research projects. These funds are supplemented by NZ Government research for industry funds that are bid for on a contestable basis every few years.

Application of the research is via knowledge gained in workshops, uptake by contractors, commercial providers and better genetics. PF Olsen’s direct involvement with research bodies such as FFR contributes to and benefits CFG NZ through early application of good ideas and research findings.

FISC The Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) was set up in early 2016 following an independent review of safety in the forest industry. FISC is a forum for exchange of safety improvement initiatives, and to develop resources for forest managers and contractors. These resources are primarily delivered via the Safetree website http://safetree.nz/. FISC is financed jointly from FGLT and government, primarily Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

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Additional Other bodies that either or both the CFG NZ and PF Olsen are active in, that representation bring benefit to CFG NZ Northern Region include: • Wood Council of New Zealand (Woodco) • Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum • NZ Forest Nursery Growers’ Association • Forest Health and Biosecurity Committee • Log Transport Safety Council • Northport Users Group • NZ Institute of Forestry Inc. • NZ International Business Forum • NZ China Council • Various organisations dealing with fresh water quality regulations • FENZ Working Groups

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20. Future Planning

Introduction This plan pertains to the management of the CFG NZ Northern Region estate and will provide guidance for the next 5 years. Deviations from this plan will be justified on the basis that the changes do not adversely affect the environment and are necessary or beneficial to achieving the management goals and objectives. The next review date for this plan is December 2022.

The forest management plan is used for both medium and long-term planning.

Operation plans Short term tactical planning is accomplished through development of annual operations plans in conjunction with detailed budgeting. These plans are prepared in accordance with this Management Plan. Harvesting operations are also planned on a block by block basis because of the level of detail required.

Such operational plans and associated budgets are subject to approval by the forest owners at the beginning of each financial year.

Stakeholder Consultation with key stakeholders has been enabled as part of the consultation development of this plan which will be publicly available on the PF Olsen Certification website. Feedback from stakeholders (and others as they become apparent) is monitored, including actions undertaken to resolve disputes and issues and may inform changes in operational practice or future plan reviews.

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21. Register of Plan Change and Review

Change register This plan pertains to the management of the CFG NZ Northern Region forest estate. Where any material changes in the status of the plan contents occurs between the full 5 year reviews, a note of the issue and the sections of this plan impacted will be recorded below.

Change Date Section/Page

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Appendix 1: Contact Details for Regional and District Councils with Jurisdiction over the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate

Council Phone Email Website

Northland Regional Council 0800 002 004 [email protected] https://www.nrc.govt.nz/

Far North District Council 0800 920 029 [email protected] http://www.fndc.govt.nz/

Kaipara District Council 0800 727 059 [email protected] http://www.kaipara.govt.nz/

Whangarei District Council 0800 WDC INFO [email protected] http://www.wdc.govt.nz/

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Appendix 2: Current Resource Consents and Heritage NZ Authorities

Authority Consent Id Forest Expiry Status Northland Regional Council CON200821559 Pouto 30/11/23 Current Northland Regional Council 37933 Rototuna 30/09/20 Current Heritage NZ 2017_728 Pouto 9/05/22 Current Heritage NZ 2017_122 Waitangi 18/08/26 Current Heritage NZ 2016_1054 Pouto 1/06/21 Current Heritage NZ 2016/174 Rototuna 7/09/20 Current Heritage NZ 2014_1131 Pouto 19/06/19 Current Heritage NZ 2009_76 Pouto 27/11/18 Current

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Appendix 3: Other Relevant Legislation

Commercially relevant statutes & regulations Accident Compensation Act 2001 #49 Animal Welfare Act 1999 Biosecurity Act 1993 Climate Change Response Act 2002 Conservation Act 1987 Crown Forest Assets Act 1989 Fencing Act 1978 Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 Forestry Rights Registrations Act 1983 Forests Act 1949 Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 Protected Objects Act 1975 Reserves Act 1977 Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry) Regulations 2017 Resource Management Act 1991 Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941 The Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 Trespass Act 1980 Wildlife Act 1953

Relevant regulations to the above legislation also apply as well as various industry Accords, Codes of Practice as listed below.

Industry Accords & Codes New Zealand Forest Accord Principles of Commercial Plantation Forest Management New Zealand Environmental Forestry Code of Practice New Zealand Code of Practice for the Management of Agrichemicals. Climate Change Accord NZ Log Transport Safety Accord Eliminating Illegal Forest Products in New Zealand MoU Federated Farmers and Forest Owners Association and Farm Forestry Association New Zealand Forest Road Engineering Manual

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 3: Other Relevant Legislation Page 90

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Appendix 4: Covenants and Encumbrances: CFG NZ Northern Region Estate

Forest Encumbrance Description Conditions Expiry Houtu QE II Covenant 15.24 ha Protect and maintain flora and fauna, maintain open space values no grazing. Maintenance of fencing and control Perpetuity of noxious plants and pests. Shared costs for new or rebuilt fences. Public access as per conditions imposed Houtu Climate Change Participation in ETS as pre 1990 Forest Land Subject to all deforestation liabilities Perpetuity Response Act 2002 Houtu Lease Lessee -NZ Forest Leasing (Northland) Ltd – Defined areas for the purpose of carbon farming with specific felling date (post 1990 forest land) with annual lease Staged but full expiry of Carbon purposes payments lease 31 December 2027 Houtu Registered Consent Subdivision Resource Consent Notice issued on Notice on consent that no provision of supply for electricity has been made Perpetuity Notice title pursuant to S221(1) RMA 1991 Houtu Easement Right to enter and take water for farming Neighbours (McCarthy) to enter and take water from the Kirikopuni Stream Perpetuity purposes Houtu Encumbrance Subdivision Notice -Encumbrance to Registered encumbrance that no power will be made available to the property Perpetuity Northpower Houtu Right of Way ROW over DP178886 May be used by owner of adjoining lot – Must not impede access cost of maintenance born by adjoining land Perpetuity owner Mahoe Registered Consent Subdivision Resource Consent Notice issued on Notice on consent that no provision of supply for telephone or electricity has been made Perpetuity Notice title pursuant to S221(1) RMA 1991 Mahoe Lease Lessee -NZ Forest Leasing (Northland) Ltd – Defined areas for the purpose of carbon farming with specific felling date (post 1990 forest land) with annual lease Staged but full expiry of Carbon purposes payments lease 31 December 2027 Mahoe Registered interest in State Owned Enterprises Act 1986 Applies to a small parcel of land (2.5ha) not entire forest. Land may be purchased by the Crown upon Perpetuity or as defined land – 2.5748 ha recommendation from the Waitangi Tribunal for the purposes of settling treaty claims. Purchased under the by legislation Public Works Act. Mahoe Marginal strips Part IVA Conservation Act 1987 All ex Crown owned land titles will have this registered encumbrance regardless of practical existence of Perpetuity waterbodies. Provides for 20 metre marginal strips being reserved for access and use by the public on areas adjoining waterways and lakes. Mahoe Mineral Rights Crown Minerals Act 1991 Crown retains ownership of any mineral found below the surface of the property Perpetuity Mahoe Petroleum Resource Petroleum Act 1937 Any petroleum found on Lot 1 DPS 57639 belongs to the Crown Perpetuity Rights Mahoe Geothermal Resource Geothermal Energy Act 1953 Any geothermal energy found on the property belongs to the Crown Perpetuity Rights Mahoe Climate Change Participation in ETS as pre 1990 Forest Land Subject to all deforestation liabilities Perpetuity Response Act 2002 Poutu Licence Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust as Licensors Transfer of Crown Forest Licence (CFL) as land has been returned under terms of the Crown Forest Licence forming 35 years notice provision part of Treaty of Waitangi Act Settlement of complete handback upon harvest Poutu Marginal strips Part IVA Conservation Act 1987 All ex Crown owned land titles will have this registered encumbrance regardless of practical existence of Perpetuity waterbodies. Provides for 20 metre marginal strips being reserved for access and use by the public on areas adjoining waterways >3m wide and lakes. Poutu Protective Covenants Research Trials (ex FRI) all trials now novated to Implied access to collect information and data under specified terms by licence holder. One month notice Term of CFL (CFL) SCION. Various genetic gain, provenance and requirement of any activity that will affect these areas Unclear if transferred to growth trials. Maori landowners Poutu Protective Covenants Water and Soil conservation Control of windblown sand dunes from in land encroachment. Maintenance of suitable protection species and Term of CFL (CFL) notice of intention to harvest or undertake earthworks in specified area of foredunes Unclear if transferred to Maori landowners Poutu Protective Covenants Heritage NZ Te Pouhere Taonga Act Various recorded archaeological sites, no disturbance without prior authorisation. Must not be replanted. There Perpetuity (CFL) are also five Wahi Tapu sites within the boundaries that have never formed part of the CFL but require protective management and consideration of all adjacent operations. Poutu Access Agreement Proseed Collection of seed under terms of access specified by Licensee

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 4: Covenants and Encumbrances: CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 91

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Waitangi Licence Crown Forest Licence – Crown ass licensor Licensee to abide by all conditions terms and schedules of CFL Automatic year on year extension Waitangi Marginal strips Part IVA Conservation Act 1987 All ex Crown owned land titles will have this registered encumbrance regardless of practical existence of Perpetuity waterbodies. Provides for 20 metre marginal strips being reserved for access and use by the public on areas adjoining waterways >3m wide and lakes. Waitangi Designation Far North District Council – Effluent Disposal Authority under District Plan designation to dispose of effluent in designated wastewater areas of the forest Term of Designation Waitangi Designation Protection of wetlands under Far North District A discretionary resource consent is required if any felling of trees takes place within the designated areas Term of proposed or Plan operative Far District Plan Waitangi Protective Covenants Heritage NZ Te Pouhere Taonga Act Various recorded archaeological sites (five known), no disturbance without prior authorisation. Must not be Perpetuity (CFL) replanted. require protective management and consideration of all adjacent operations. Waitangi Conservation 5.06 ha as a conservation area Preservation of tidal area and wetland habitat. Prohibition on roading tracking or any vehicular access Perpetuity Covenant (CFL) Waitangi Conservation 0.53 ha as a conservation area Area set aside for the protection of the rare King Fern (Todea Barbara). Activities adjacent to or on this area Perpetuity Covenant (CFL) require authorisation from the Licensor Waitangi Conservation 19.93 ha as a conservation area Protection of a semi infertile wetland area. Activities adjacent to or on this area require authorisation from the Perpetuity Covenant (CFL) Licensor

Waitangi Conservation 20.54 ha as a conservation area Mixed woody plants and sedges set aside as a habitat for Kiwi, Fernbirds and Spotless Crake. Activities adjacent to Perpetuity Covenant (CFL) or on this area require authorisation from t

Waitangi Conservation 2.55 ha as a conservation area Wetland vegetation set aside as habitat for Kiwi, Fernbirds and Spotless Crake. Activities adjacent to or on this Perpetuity Covenant (CFL) area require authorisation from the Licensor Waitangi Gazetted Area Minor area for access purposes Roadway Vested in Far North District Council. Terms and conditions of gazetted access notice Perpetuity (795m2)

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 4: Covenants and Encumbrances: CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 92

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Appendix 5: PF Olsen Significant Aspects – Objectives, targets and monitoring

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 5: PF Olsen Significant Aspects – Objectives, targets and monitoring Page 93

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Appendix 6: Significant Aspects of a Plantation Forest Life Cycle

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 6: Significant Aspects of a Plantation Forest Life Cycle Page 94

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Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 09 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland 09’27 an extensive area of 104.3 ha of freshwater and saline estuarine wetland habitat. NZTM E1696011, N5989076

Proposed HCV HCV3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered class ecosystems.

Site values An exceptionally large wetland area with terrestrial ecotones and a freshwater to saline transition of wetland species down the catchment to the coast.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the area contains a series of vegetation types from Machaerina sedgeland; pampas tussockland; raupo reedland; ti kouka-manuka shrubland; oioi sedgeland. It is a large wetland ecosystem that contains a full terrestrial-freshwater-saline ecological sequence. Supports.

27 Wildlands report 2017 site Roto/1

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 95

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Continued on next page... …continued At Risk bird species present in general area include Caspian Tern, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake, Little black shag, Pied shag, NZ Dabchick, New Zealand pipit, Blackshag.

Large parts of the wetland are in excellent condition. However invasive weeds pose a long-term threat with large concentrations located around highly modified northern margins.

Mammalian predators and pigs also pose a threat.

Work strategy Site (a) Site of earlier fire now major source of weed invasion. Re-establish plantation to buffered edge to outcompete weeds. Control pampas, acacia, pine. Open access and restore buffer and establish pest control

Site (b) Acacia is major terrestrial weed. Pampas secondary. Ground and targeted aerial control acacia and pampas.

Open up foot access at margin for mamalian pest control.

Site (c) Dense pampas in gully of northern arm of wetland.

Undertake ground control.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 96

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. Pampas infestations and general weed control in adjacent burnt 2018 Weed control forest land. Monitoring Establish photopoints of focus areas. Site Access Establish plantation setback and low-level access along setback edge for ground access to wetland (a) Ground based weed control – pampas, acacia and pine 2019 Weed control regeneration. Ground based or targeted aerial control – Pampas & acacia. Seedling Acquire local kanuka and other seedlings from within forest and pot- acquisition up for enrichment planting purposes. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Ground based weed control – pampas regrowth. Establish trapping along access track and public road edge, where Pest control practicable. Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Restoration Densely infill plant site(a) buffer to control future weed invasion. planting 2020 Weed control Follow-up weed control of site (b). Establish low-level ground access along buffered perimeter of first Access sections of Northern boundary of wetland. Seedling Acquire local kanuka and other seedlings from within forest and pot- acquisition up for enrichment planting purposes. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. (c) Groundbased pampas control and other woody weeds. Weed control (a) Follow-up weed control if required. (b) Follow-up weed control if required. 2021 (a)&(b)Densely infill plant site buffers to control future weed Restoration invasion where possible and especially around public road / wetland planting interface. (b) Establish trapping along access track on Northern boundary. and public road edge, where practicable. Maintain trapping Pest control on southern boundary and road edge. Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Maintain control in treated areas. 2022 Pest control Maintain trapping effort and monitoring. Management Review 2021 drone footage – establish new focus priorities if plan required.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 97

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 18/Scrub05 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland18,&Scrub05’28 part of an extensive area of an 88.2ha sequence of duneland grass and scrubland vegetation, impounded dune lakes transitioning to taller stature coastal Kanuka forest. The narrow sliver of land incorporates part of Lake Karaka and comes to and end against a narrow isolated 10ha patch of plantation radiata that bisects a potential connection with a further 54.3ha of coastal kanuka forest. NZTM E1692781, N5980760.

Proposed HCV HCV3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered class ecosystems.

Site values An exceptionally large wetland area with terrestrial ecotones and a freshwater to saline transition of wetland species down the catchment to the coast.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the area contains Kanuka scrub; Machaerina sedgeland; sandfields; dune lakes and threatened duneland habitats including dune lake and freshwater sedgeland. Foredune sequences include Pingao, spinifex, toetoe, tauhinu and sand sedge.

28 Wildlands report 2017 site Roto/2

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Continued on next page... …continued The area supports threatened and at risk species. At Risk bird species present in general area include Caspian Tern, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake, Little black shag, Pied shag, NZ Dabchick, New Zealand pipit, Blackshag.

Large parts of the wetland / duneland sequence are in excellent condition. However invasive weeds, stock access, vehicle /ATV access and aquatic pest plants pose long-term threats to the zone.

Work strategy This sequence of reserve areas poses particular logistical problems for protection given the long narrow projection into an extensive area of shifting dunelands and substantial scope for access from relatively uncontrollable boundaries.

There are limited practical options for enhancement due to shared and permeable boundaries and while there are threatened species present capacity for effective control is limited without effective coordination across boundaries. Most of the area also has no direct contact with or relevance to, the forestry operations that will be undertaken in the core of Rototuna forest.

In the immediate term, the best options appear to be: • To improve fencing to protect L Karaka and its immediate inland boundary from stock ingress. • To control weeds in the immediate vicinity of the inland boundary. • To better control public access to limit weed (aquatic and terrestrial) introductions. • To undertake a managed withdrawal upon harvest and subsequent retirement of the 10ha of radiata that prevents the linking of this reserve with the 54ha of back dune kanuka, thus completing a full vegetation sequence.

Site SNA ‘SCRB_05’ View NE edge of Lake Karaka.

Upgrade fencline protection along front of L Karaka and between neighbouring rough pasture.

Control terrestrial weeds.

Control access.

Continued on next page...

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 99

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Work strategy Site ‘Wetl18’ (contd) View across L Karaka to low foredunes.

As above for boundary between current plantation forest and indigenous reserve area.

Control terrestrial weeds.

Control access.

Site ‘Lept04’ View within rear dune Kanuka

In lead-up to harvesting of 21year radiata separating site (a) & (b) from (c), start a programme of careful crop removal followed by retirement and weed control to cahieve full foredune to backdune sequence.

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone and /or field survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. 2018 Liaise with underlying landowners with view to establishing a gate on Access control Karaka road to prevent unauthorised entry. Ground based weed control – pampas, acacia and pine regeneration Weed control along edge of radiata cmpt 39/03 and L Karaka inland boundary. Liaise with underlying landowners and neighbours with view to establishing an effective level of fencing – initially along boundary of Fencing radiata and neighbouring grazing lands and if required boundary with 2019 area ‘Scrb05’. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Review options for QE11 covenant or other biodiversity funding or Covenanting gifting of area SW of plantation stand 39/03. Firm up long-term management options. Fencing Undertake fencing programme as determined is feasible. Pest control Establish trapping along fencline access track adjacent to L Karaka where practicable. 2020 Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Weed control Follow-up weed control as and if required. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 100

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Continued on next page... …continued

Year Activity Type Actions Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Follow-up weed control if required. Establish trapping along access track on Northern boundary. and 2021 Pest control public road edge, where practicable. Maintain trapping on southern boundary and road edge. Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Commission work on options for post-harvest retirement and Restoration restoration of Compartment 39/03. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Maintain control in treated areas. 2022 Pest control Maintain trapping effort and monitoring. Management Develop management plan for retirement and restoration of 39/03. plan

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 101

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 04 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland 04,29 is part of an extensive network of wetlands in the forest. An area of 8.1ha of freshwater wetlands penetrating well into the plantation forest. This wetland in combination with the others is the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

The wetland is large and generally in a very good state. NZTM E1693004, N6097792.

Proposed HCV HCVF1 “Globally Regionally or Nationally significant concentrations of class threatened or endangered species.

HCVF3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.

29 Wildlands report 2017 site prt Wait 3

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 102

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Site values A freshwater wetland area with terrestrial ecotones that in combination with others in the forest forms a wetland complex that is the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the area contains Raupo reedland; Machaerina rubiginosa sedgeland with scattered maire tawake. It is part of a matrix of wetland habitat that is a stronghold of Northland mudfish (Neochanna heleios; ThreatenedNationally Vulnerable).

A smaller wetland ecosystem that supports ‘At Risk’ bird species. At Risk bird species present in general area include Australasian Bittern, Grey Duck, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake & Little black shag.

The wetland sequence is in good condition. However, predator and possum control are desirable to protect fernbird and spotless crake while control of pampas, Mexican devil, Kahili ginger, Queensland poplar, and crack willow needs to be maintained to prevent deterioration of the physical condition of the wetland.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 103

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Work strategy This wetland in general is of very high quality and in good physical condition.

The primary objective of management is to: • Control and eradicate weeds from currently degraded portions. • Prevent spread from predictable sources (e.g. road edges and harvesting sites especially just after harvesting) • Prevent physical or hydrological disturbance during forestry operations. • Instigation of mammalian pest control with a programme of improvement of coverage coordinated with harvesting as boundary access improves.

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone and /or field survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. Ground based weed control – pampas, ginger and other weeds Weed control along Te Wairoa road and unnamed track running along NW margin. 2018 Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Monitoring Undertake bat box monitoring to check for bat presence. • Maintain ground-based weed control. Weed control • Develop wider programme if drone survey reveals a need. • Pest predator trapping initially along Te Wairoa road and unnamed track running along NW margin if harvesting not 2019 underway Pest control • Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. • Coordinate future trapping access with proposed harvest planning and operations programme.

Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Maintain pest control programme on areas not in conflict with Pest control adjacent harvesting, expand programme along accessible boundaries after harvesting. 2020 Weed control Follow-up weed control as and if required. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas.

2021 • Follow-up weed control if required. Weed control • Undertake weed control if required on any post-harvest tracks or disturbed areas on boundary of wetland.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 104

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Extend trapping along access tracks around harvested areas if any. Pest control Monitor in “Trap_NZ”.

Monitoring Establish bird listening points. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Maintain control in treated areas. 2022 Pest control Maintain trapping effort and monitoring. Monitoring Repeat bird listening points.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 105

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 05 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland05,30 is part of an extensive network of wetlands in the forest. An area of 20.6ha of freshwater wetlands penetrating well into the plantation forest. This wetland in combination with the others is the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

The wetland is large and generally in a very good state. NZTM E1692535, N609919.

Proposed HCV HCVF1 “Globally Regionally or Nationally significant concentrations of class threatened or endangered species.

HCVF3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.

Site Values A freshwater wetland area with terrestrial ecotones that in combination with others in the forest forms a wetland complex that is the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the area contains Raupo reedland; Machaerina rubiginosa sedgeland with scattered maire tawake. It is part of a matrix of wetland habitat that is a stronghold of Northland mudfish (Neochanna heleios; ThreatenedNationally Vulnerable).

30 Wildlands report 2017 site prt Wait 3

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 106

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

…continued It is a large wetland ecosystem that supports ‘At Risk’ bird species. At Risk bird species present in general area include Australasian Bittern, Grey Duck, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake & Little black shag.

Large parts of the wetland sequence are in excellent condition. However, Predator and possum control are desirable to protect fernbird and spotless crake while control of pampas, Mexican devil, Kahili ginger, Queensland poplar, and crack willow needs to be maintained to prevent deterioration of the physical condition of the wetland.

Work strategy This wetland in general is of very high quality and in good physical condition.

The primary objective of management is to: • Control and eradicate weeds from currently degraded portions. • Prevent spread from predictable sources (e.g road edges and harvesting sites especially just after harvesting) • Prevent physical or hydrological disturbance during forestry operations. • Instigation of mammalian pest control with a programme of improvement of coverage coordinated with harvesting as boundary access improves.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 107

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone and /or field survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. Ground based weed control – pampas, ginger and other weeds along Te Wairoa road and unnamed road linking Te Wairoa and Skyline road. Weed control 2018 Grass up road edge to assist prevention of weed reseeding if warranted Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Monitoring Undertake bat box monitoring to check for bat presence. Maintain ground based weed control –

Weed control Develop wider programme if drone survey reveals a need especially on clumps of willow. Pest predator trapping initially along Te Wairoa and link road between Te Wairoa and Skyline if harvesting not underway 2019

Pest control Monitor in “Trap_NZ”.

Coordinate future trapping access with proposed harvest planning and operations programme. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Maintain pest control programme on areas not in conflict with Pest control adjacent harvesting, expand programme along accessible 2020 boundaries after harvesting. Weed control Follow-up weed control as and if required. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Follow-up weed control if required.

Weed control 2021 Undertake weed control if required on any post-harvest tracks or disturbed areas on boundary of wetland. Extend trapping along access tracks around harvested areas if any. Pest control Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Monitoring Establish bird listening points. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Maintain control in treated areas. 2022 Pest control Maintain trapping effort and monitoring. Monitoring Repeat bird listening points.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 108

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 07 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland07,31 is part of an extensive network of wetlands in the forest. An area of 36.6ha of freshwater wetlands penetrating well into the plantation forest. This wetland in combination with the others is the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

The wetland is large and generally in a very good state. NZTM E1692759, N6099269.

Proposed HCV HCVF1 “Globally Regionally or Nationally significant concentrations of class threatened or endangered species.

HCVF3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.

Site values A large freshwater wetland area with terrestrial ecotones and the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the areas comprising the wetland complex as containing Raupo reedland; Machaerina rubiginosa sedgeland with scattered maire tawake. It is part of a matrix of wetland habitat that is a stronghold of Northland mudfish (Neochanna heleios; ThreatenedNationally Vulnerable).

31 Wildlands report 2017 site prt Wait 3

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 109

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

…continued It is a large wetland ecosystem that supports ‘At Risk’ bird species. At Risk bird species present in general area include Australasian Bittern, Grey Duck, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake & Little black shag.

Large parts of the wetland sequence are in excellent condition. However, Predator and possum control are desirable to protect fernbird and spotless crake while control of pampas, Mexican devil, Kahili ginger, Queensland poplar, and crack willow needs to be maintained to prevent deterioration of the physical condition of the wetland.

Work strategy This wetland in general, is of very high quality and in good physical condition.

The primary objective of management is to: • Control and eradicate weeds from currently degraded portions. • Prevent spread from predictable sources (e.g road edges and harvesting sites especially just after harvesting) • Prevent physical or hydrological disturbance during forestry operations. • Instigation of mammalian pest control with a programme of improvement of coverage coordinated with harvesting as boundary access improves.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 110

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Site WNGI_Wetl-07 View upstream from causeway. View downstream of Te Wairoa road causeway.

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone and /or field survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. Ground based weed control – pampas, ginger and other weeds Weed control along Te Wairoa road and off other unnamed existing tracks around 2018 wetland edges. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Monitoring Undertake bat box monitoring to check for bat presence. • Maintain ground-based weed control Weed control • Develop wider programme if drone survey reveals a need • Pest predator trapping initially along Te Wairoa and off other unnamed existing tracks around wetland edges. 2019 Pest control • Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. • Coordinate future trapping access with proposed harvest planning and operations programme. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Pest control Establish expanded trapping as harvesting access permits. 2020 Weed control Follow-up weed control as and if required. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Monitoring Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. • Follow-up weed control if required. Weed control • Undertake weed control if required on any post-harvest tracks 2021 or disturbed areas on boundary of wetland. Extend trapping along access tracks around harvested areas if any. Pest control Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Monitoring Establish bird listening points. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. 2022 Weed control Maintain control in treated areas. Pest control Maintain trapping effort and monitoring.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 111

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 09 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland09,32 is part of an extensive network of wetlands in the forest. An area of 7.1ha of freshwater and saline wetland on the NE forest margin that originally extended well beyond the forest boundary into what is now partly drained and farmed land. This wetland in combination with the others in Waitandi forest forms the largest complex in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

The wetland is medium sized and subject to more weed infestation. NZTM E1692573, N6099968.

Proposed HCV HCVF1 “Globally Regionally or Nationally significant concentrations of class threatened or endangered species.

HCVF3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.

32 Wildlands report 2017 site prt Wait 3

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 112

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Site values A large freshwater wetland area with terrestrial ecotones and the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the areas comprising the wetland complex as containing Raupo reedland; Machaerina rubiginosa sedgeland with scattered maire tawake. It is part of a matrix of wetland habitat that is a stronghold of Northland mudfish (Neochanna heleios; Threatened Nationally Vulnerable).

It is a large wetland ecosystem that supports ‘At Risk’ bird species. At Risk bird species present in general area include Australasian Bittern, Grey Duck, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake & Little black shag.

Large parts of the wetland sequence are in excellent condition. However, Predator and possum control are desirable to protect fernbird and spotless crake while control of pampas, Mexican devil, Kahili ginger, Queensland poplar, and crack willow needs to be maintained to prevent deterioration of the physical condition of the wetland.

Work strategy This wetland in general, is more degraded due to weeds and lowered watertables at the external boundary.

The primary objective of management is to: • Control and eradicate weeds from currently degraded portions. • Prevent spread from predictable sources (e.g road edges, harvesting sites especially just after harvesting) and ingress from adjacent properties. • Prevent physical disturbance during forestry operations.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 113

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Site WNGI_Wetl-09 A drier habitat – probably due to down valley drainage, self-regenerating pine occupies some

of the margins along with other scattered woody Over the legal boundary on the NE margin dense weeds.. ‘tobacco weed’ has established and in time will progress into the wetland if not controlled at the margins.

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone and /or field survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. 2018 Weed control Ground based pine regeneration control Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. • Establish tobacco weed free buffer along NE boundary. Weed control • Develop wider programme if drone survey reveals a need and in coordination with harvesting activity 2019 Establish state, merits, practicality of boundary fence with Fencing neighbour to stop stock movement into wetland Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Follow-up weed control as and if required especially on pampas. 2020 Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Monitoring Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. • 2021 Follow-up weed control if required. Weed control • Undertake weed control if required on any post-harvest tracks or disturbed areas on boundary of wetland. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. 2022 Weed control Maintain control in treated areas.

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 18 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland18,33 is part of an extensive network of wetlands in the forest. An area of a 60.6ha of freshwater wetlands penetrating right through a substantial portion of the forest this in combination with the others is the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

The wetland is large and generally in a very good state. NZTM E1690743, N6099732.

Proposed HCV HCVF1 “Globally Regionally or Nationally significant concentrations of class threatened or endangered species.

HCVF3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.

Site values A large freshwater wetland area with terrestrial ecotones and the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the area contains Raupo reedland; Machaerina rubiginosa sedgeland with scattered maire tawake. It is part of a matrix of wetland habitat that is a stronghold of Northland mudfish (Neochanna heleios; ThreatenedNationally Vulnerable).

33 Wildlands report 2017 site prt Wait 3

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

…continued It is a large wetland ecosystem that supports ‘At Risk’ bird species. At Risk bird species present in general area include Australasian Bittern, Grey Duck, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake & Little black shag.

Large parts of the wetland sequence are in excellent condition. However, Predator and possum control are desirable to protect fernbird and spotless crake while control of pampas, Mexican devil, Kahili ginger, Queensland poplar, and crack willow needs to be maintained to prevent deterioration of the physical condition of the wetland.

Work strategy This wetland in general is of very high quality and in good physical condition.

The primary objective of management is to: • Control and eradicate weeds from currently degraded portions. • Prevent spread from predictable sources (e.g road edges and harvesting sites especially just after harvesting) • Prevent physical or hydrological disturbance during forestry operations. • Instigation of mammalian pest control with a programme of improvement of coverage coordinated with harvesting as boundary access improves.

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

…continued

View downstream from causeway. Site WNGI_Wetl-18 Clumps of wild ginger requiring control – View along road edge of Te Wairoa road probably arising from the illegal dumping of causeway. garden rubbish.

While the road edge provides conditions favourable to weed growth, control is easy and cheap and an existing ditch is acting as a physical barrier restricting the rate of spread.

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone and /or field survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. Ground based weed control – pampas, ginger and other weeds along Te Wairoa road and start of Croak Road. Weed control 2018 Grass up road edge to assist prevention of weed reseeding. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Monitoring Undertake bat box monitoring to check for bat presence. Maintain ground based weed control – Weed control Develop wider programme if drone survey reveals a need • Pest predator trapping initially along Te Wairoa Todea and proximate parts of Croak road. 2019 Pest control • Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. • Coordinate future trapping access with proposed harvest planning and operations programme. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Pest control Maintain pest predator trapping around edges from current access. 2020 Weed control Follow-up weed control as and if required. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas.

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DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 117

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

…continued

Year Activity Type Actions Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. • Follow-up weed control if required. Weed control • Undertake weed control if required on any post-harvest tracks or disturbed areas on boundary of wetland. Extend trapping along access tracks around harvested areas if any. Pest control Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Monitoring Establish bird listening points. 2021 Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. • Follow-up weed control if required. Weed control • Undertake weed control if required on any post-harvest tracks or disturbed areas on boundary of wetland. Extend trapping along access tracks around harvested areas if any. Pest control Monitor in “Trap_NZ”. Monitoring Establish bird listening points. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. 2022 Weed control Maintain control in treated areas. Pest control Maintain trapping effort and monitoring.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 118

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

High Conservation Value Forest Wetland 21 Consultation Summary

Thursday, 04 January 2018

Location Area ‘Wetland21,34 is a large wetland in a coastal forest block separate and NE of the main Waitangi forest. An area of 21.5ha of freshwater wetland on the coastal margins of the Kerikeri inlet.

The wetland is large and much of its extent in good condition. NZTM E1692440, N6101894.

Proposed HCV HCVF1 “Globally Regionally or Nationally significant concentrations of class threatened or endangered species.

HCVF3 - ‘Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.

Site values A large freshwater wetland area with terrestrial ecotones and the largest in the Kerikeri Ecological District.

Wildlands Ltd Ecological Survey (2017) notes the wetland as containing Raupo-Machaerina articulata reedland. Part of a matrix of wetland habitat that is a stronghold of Northland mudfish (Neochanna heleios; Threatened Nationally Vulnerable).

Continued on next page...

34 Wildlands report 2017 site prt Wait 2

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

…continued It is a large wetland ecosystem that supports ‘At Risk’ bird species. At Risk bird species present in general area include Australasian Bittern, Grey Duck, North Island fernbird, Banded rail, Spotless crake & Little black shag.

Large parts of the wetland sequence are in good condition.

Work strategy This wetland in general, remains in good physical condition however there are portions at the margins and particularly close to roads where weed invasion is underway.

The primary objective of management is to: • Control and eradicate weeds from currently degraded portions by control targeting pampas, Mexican devil, Kahili ginger, Queensland poplar, and crack willow. • Prevent spread from predictable sources (e.g. road edges, harvesting sites especially just after harvesting) and ingress from adjacent properties and illegal dumping of garden rubbish. • Prevent physical disturbance during forestry operations. • Predator and possum control are desirable to protect fernbird and spotless crake.

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 7: High Conservation Value Forests in the CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 120

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Site WNGI_Wetl-09

A drier habitat at the margins with open neighbouring properties and exposure to Illegal dumping of garden waste is almost a other woody species provides opportunity for guarantee of new invasive species. weedy species invasion.

Work programme

Year Activity Type Actions Monitoring Drone and /or field survey – establish baseline weed concentrations. Survey accessible margins for target weed hotspots for short-term 2018 Weed control attention. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Develop wider programme if drone survey reveals a need at other hot spots and in coordination with harvesting activity and especially Weed control location of tracks to be kept clear of weeds and open for ease of 2019 predator control. Monitoring Deploy bat detection boxes to establish presence. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Follow-up weed control as and if required especially on pampas. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. 2020 Implement traplines / predator control based on harvesting track Pest control access. Monitoring Undertake bird listening survey. Monitoring Drone survey – review changes from baseline weed concentrations. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. • Follow-up weed control if required. 2021 Weed control • Undertake weed control if required on any post-harvest tracks or disturbed areas on boundary of wetland. Pest control Maintain predator control and monitoring Monitoring Repeat bird listening survey. Monitoring Photopoints of focus areas. Weed control Maintain control in treated areas. 2022 Pest control Maintain predator control and monitoring Monitoring Repeat bird listening survey.

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Appendix 8: Birds Recorded in CFG NZ Northern Region Estate

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 8: Birds Recorded in CFG NZ Northern Region Estate Page 122

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

Appendix 9: Northland Regional Pest Management Strategy 2010 – 2015 Plant species managed in the Regional Pest Management Strategy

Animal species to be managed under the regional pest management strategy

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FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN FSCGS04 China Forestry Group New Zealand Company Limited

DECEMBER 2017 Appendix 9: Northland Regional Pest Management Strategy 2010 – 2015 Page 124