43944 (2024). Chlöe Swarbrick to the Minister of Climate Change

43944 (2024). Chlöe Swarbrick to the Minister of Climate Change: What does the modelling show about the area of non-National Park Crown land that may be available for afforestation?

Hon Simon Watts: Any estimates of the Crown land available for afforestation depends on a range of assumptions including on the physical suitability of land for afforestation, which types of trees may be able to grow and whether any limits are applied (including whether legal limits and afforestation are compatible with the current use of the land). The Ministry of Primary Industries has undertaken a preliminary assessment of Crown land focused on land which is potentially available for afforestation outside of National Parks. This analysis identified a total of 638,000 hectares could be available, however this estimate is subject to a high level of uncertainty. Further work is needed to refine this estimate.