An assessment of the impacts of environmental certification on vegetatiojj management in New Zealand plantation forestry

摘要

The dependency of the New Zealand forestry sector on herbicides for cost-effective vegetation management does not align with environmental principles endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Hexazinone andterbuthylazine, two of the most commonly used herbicides in New Zealand forestry, have been ranked by FSC as hazardous and must not be used in certified forests without special dispensation. A 5 year interim approval has been obtained for the continued use of these herbicides in certifiedforests. To extend an approval a certificate holder must show a need for using hazardous herbicides. Such an assessment requires an estimate ofthe likely cost of altemative vegetation control methods. Using discounted cashflow analysis, the economic implications of altemative vegetation control methods that: (1) use FSC compliant herbicides; (2) reduce overall herbicide use; and (3) avoid herbicides altogether, were examined. Results indicate removal of terbuthylazine and hexazinone from the forester'svegetation management toolbox in FSC certified forests could reduce profitabihty of the New Zealand forestry sector.