Permanent Native Forest Carbon Projects

supported by the Air New Zealand FlyNeutral programme

The following five permanent native forest projects generate carbon credits issued by the New

Zealand government under the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) for use in Air New Zealand’s

FlyNeutral carbon offsetting programme:

1. Owenga Reserve (Chatham Islands)

2. Tempello Bio-Diversity Project (Marlborough)

3. Coatbridge Native Forest Project (Marlborough)

4. Native Forest Restoration Trust Projects (various reserves in Northland, Waikato and Wellington)

5. Wellington City Council (WCC) Outer Green Belt PFSI Areas (various reserves) (Wellington)

These five are registered under the PFSI and comprise approximately 50% of all native forest

registered under the PFSI.

Puhoi Far North

McGregor’s

Rangitoto

Owenga

Tempello

Coatbridge Pigeon Bush

WCC

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1. Owenga Reserve (Chatham Islands)

Owenga Reserve is the largest private conservation reserve on the Chatham Islands. The landowners have covenanted 1400 hectares of their farm as a PFSI reserve managed for recovery of the Chatham’s unique indigenous vegetation. This has required retirement fencing, control of wild animals, and fire control. Only 10 percent of the Island’s original forest remains so this project is a model for other Chatham’s landowners. Recovery of natural forest has become a community aspiration because of its importance to the identity and heritage of islanders. Standard: Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) Covenants: PFSI Forest Sink Covenant Location: Owenga Station, Chatham Islands Owner: Alfred and Robin Preece Entity: Private (Family Ownership) PFSI Area: 1394 hectares Management Objectives To recover native forest and peatland ecosystems and provide habitat for species that are endemic to the Chatham Islands, and to increase carbon stocks. Carbon Income Income from carbon credit sales supports activities such as fencing, wild animal control, and fire prevention.

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2. Tempello Bio-Diversity Project (Marlborough)

The Tempello Bio-Diversity Project is a privately-owned forest restoration project located a few kilometres to the south of Blenheim, owned by the Grigg family. The permanent native forest area falls within an area designated by the Department of Conservation as a Recommended Area for Protection and includes beech/podocarp forest remnants with the highest biodiversity in Wither Hills Ecological District. The Grigg family have a vision to enhance and protect the native biodiversity of the area, and to preserve the history and uniqueness so that it is a special place to visit, while continuing to successfully farm the remainder of the property. They actively encourage educational and community activities on their land including the biennial ‘Tramp the Ned’ walk, which attracts over 500 people and has become a major Marlborough community event. Standard: Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) Covenants: PFSI Forest Sink Covenant Location: Wither Hills, 10 km South of Blenheim, Marlborough Ownership: Tempello Station Limited Entity: Company (Family Trust) PFSI Area: 308 hectares Website: http://www.trampthened.co.nz/Home/Tempello_Bio_diversity_Project Management Objectives Management of the PFSI area is focused on recovery of indigenous forest habitat and biodiversity. Educational and community outdoor activities are also encouraged within the Tempello Reserve. Carbon Income The sale of carbon units is the main income source supporting conservation management activities, including invasive exotic weed control, and wild animal control.

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3. Coatbridge Native Forest Project (Marlborough)

Coatbridge is a 1600-hectare property located in Marlborough and farmed by the Adams family since 1851. Historically a sheep and beef farm, nowadays it has vastly diversified. The property continues to run livestock, but now also produces sauvignon grapes for Villa Maria winery, several forest plantations for timber, and the protected area of native regeneration which produces carbon income, and also manuka honey. In earlier years the steep hill country would be periodically cleared of indigenous regeneration and put back into pasture. Now these areas are covenanted under the PFSI scheme and attention is paid to protecting and promoting natural forest recovery. Standard: Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) Covenants: PFSI Forest Sink Covenant Location: Northbank, Wairau Valley, Marlborough Ownership: Coatbridge Limited Entity: Company (Geoff, Liz, Scott & Whitley Adams) PFSI Area: 368 hectares Website: Article: http://www.waterfordpress.co.nz/agriculture/coatbridge-station/ Management Objectives The PFSI reserve is retired from farming and is under protective management to encourage the recovery of native forest. The key management input is control of deer, goats, pigs and possum. Carbon Income Income from carbon credit sales helps with cost of maintaining fire breaks, possum, goat and pig eradication programs to protect the native forestry. A wilding control program is also being funded to stop the spread of invasive pines within the protected areas.

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4. Native Forest Restoration Trust Projects

The Native Forest Restoration Trust (NFRT) is dedicated to protecting New Zealand’s native forests and wetlands and now manages over 7,000 hectares of reserves covenanted for permanent protection through the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust. The NFRT supply carbon credits from three project areas to FlyNeutral:

1. Northland Reserves (Elvie McGregor, Professor W.R. McGregor, Puhoi Far North) The McGregor reserves neighbour the ancient Waipoua Forest, which contains the famous kauri, Tāne Mahuta. Much work has been undertaken over the past few decades to encourage the recovery of Kauri forest within the reserves. Areas contain naturally recovering forest as well as grassland recently planted into kauri and successfully seeded with manuka. The Puhoi Far North Reserve is a rainforest conservation project in Far Northland, east of Kaitaia. It provides habitat to several endangered species including the North Island Brown Kiwi.

2. Rangitoto Station, King Country - Waikato Region

Rangitoto Station was formerly cleared of bush for farming and is now managed for protection of remnants of mature native forest and recovery of native forest elsewhere. Natural regeneration is also supported by planting activities. The locality is also important for native fauna recovery and habitat for endangered Kokako. NFRT Rangitoto Lodge provides a base for education and community activities in the reserve.

3. Pigeon Bush, South Wairarapa

Pigeon Bush is the largest reserve owned by the NFRT. The property was cleared of forest for farming in the 19th Century. It bounds Rimutaka Pass highway (SH2) and lies between Rimutaka and Tararua Conservation Parks. The reserve is managed for protection of mature native forest remnants and recovery of native forest on former farmland.

Standard: Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) Covenants: PFSI Forest Sink Covenant, Open Space Covenant (QEII

www.qeiinationaltrust.org.nz) Location: 1. Northland Reserves- Waipoua and Far North District, Northland

2. Rangitoto Station - Te Awamutu, Waikato Region 3. Pigeon Bush - Rimutaka Ranges, Wellington Region Ownership: NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust Entity: Registered Charitable Trust PFSI Area: 1. Northland Reserves - 302 hectares

2. Rangitoto Station - 152 hectares 3. Pigeon Bush - 874 hectares Website: https://www.nfrt.org.nz/reserves-projects/ Management Objectives The NFRT manage over 7,000 hectares of land across New Zealand for protection and recovery of native forest ecosystems.

When land is purchased, the NFRT places it under a covenant for permanent protection through the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust ensuring that New Zealand’s native species are protected forever and that the land can never be harvested, cleared or developed.

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The NFRT appoints an honorary ranger and establish a management plan for the area, often working with local volunteers to carry this out. This often includes making sure that the area is protected from invasive pests and predators through predator-control and plant management programmes, fencing the property to keep stock out and creating paths and information boards for visitors.

Carbon Income Income from the sale of carbon credits is a major source of income for the NFRT’s work and has enabled the Trust to greatly expand its capacity and operations, enabling the purchase of more land for retirement and protection, and supporting the trust’s other core activities such as indigenous forest establishment and pest and predator control.

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5. Wellington City Council (WCC) PFSI Areas in the Outer Green Belt

(Wellington)

Wellington’s Outer Green Belt defines the western edge of the city’s urban environment. It is a continuous green belt following the ridges west of the city – extending from the rugged South Coast to Colonial Knob above Porirua. Within the Outer Green Belt (OGB) native forest is being ecologically restored, and there is a highly accessible and expanding recreation network for walkers, runners, mountain bikers, and picnickers. Hugely valued by the people of Wellington, the Outer Green Belt is not separate from the city, but a vital part of it – a living, functioning, natural and cultural landscape providing a wide variety of tangible and intangible benefits for the city. Wellington City Council is dedicated to encouraging native forest restoration, which includes in the OGB, which includes supporting the community to control browsing and predatory animals, as well as planting thousands of native trees every year. Large areas of the OGB were formerly grazed pasture and are now regenerating into native forests, which have been registered as post-1989 forest in the PFSI programme for carbon sequestration. WCC’s PFSI-registered land area accounts for approximately 10 percent of the total registered PFSI forest area in New Zealand. WCC reserves registered in the PFSI include Hawkins Hill, Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park, Te Kopahou Reserve, and Kilmister Tops. Standard: Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) Covenants: PFSI Forest Sink Covenant Location: Wellington Region Ownership: Wellington City Council Entity: Local Authority PFSI Area: 1464 hectares Website: https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/plans-policies-and-bylaws/policies/outer-green-

belt-management-plan https://wellington.govt.nz/recreation/enjoy-the-outdoors/parks-and-reserves/outer-green-belt-reserves

Management Objectives The long-term objective is to manage the Outer Green Belt as a continuous recreation and ecological corridor. The protection of existing natural vegetation and the restoration of native forest is essential to this vision. Carbon Income WCC funds various activities associated with promoting native forest restoration throughout its reserves, including tree planting and pest animal control. While the costs of these activities far exceed the carbon revenue received, earning income from carbon sales provides an important example for other private and public landowners – demonstrating that the costs of conservation activities can be at least partially offset.