Climate Change Minister David Parker has criticised Kyoto Forestry
Association head Roger Dickie for making simplistic and misleading
comments about climate change proposals.

"Mr Dickie asserts that owners have a right to the carbon sink credits
for forests planted after 1990. This is simply not the case. Forest
owners have no property right in carbon credits, just as emitters such
as farmers have no current liability for their greenhouse gas
emissions."

"We are devolving credits - for new permanent forests - and we are the
first Kyoto country in the world to do so."

Mr Parker has also taken issue with misleading claims that the
government is considering a $13,000 tax on landowners converting from
forestry to other land uses.

"Nowhere in the discussion document does it suggest a $13,000 tax for
deforestation, despite the fact that $13,000 per hectare is the
estimated cost to the taxpayer associated with deforestation.

"We have already stated that our preferred option is to allow historic
rates of deforestation to continue but to control increases," Mr Parker
said.

"Worldwide, deforestation causes approximately 25% of the world's
carbon dioxide emissions. Obviously, steps to limit deforestation are
as necessary in New Zealand as they are in other countries."

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials start nationwide
consultation tomorrow on the discussion document, Sustainable Land
Management and Climate Change.
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