Forestry Transition Working Group established

A Forestry Transition Working Group has been established as Nelson City Council starts work on its long-term project to exit commercial pine forestry as recommended by the Right Tree Right Place taskforce.

The working group will be chaired by Mayor Nick Smith and will include councillors Matthew Benge, Rachel Sanson, Aaron Stallard, Kahu Paki Paki, Trudie Brand and James Hodgson.

One of the group’s first jobs will be to provide guidance on the job description for a new Forest Systems Manager role who will be responsible for leading the transition work within Council.

The role of the Working Group is to: 

• work with Council staff, in particular the Forest Systems Manager, as they implement the forestry transition approach approved through the Long Term Plan 2024-34, and including implementation of the recommendations of the Right Tree Right Place Taskforce; 
• provide oversight of the development of a strategic plan for all of Council’s forestry land – being the 600ha of forest in transition, and the 10,000ha forest conservation estate; 
• work in a cost-effective and financially prudent way and ringfence forestry-related income so it can be used to fund the transition process.