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Forests planted prior to 1990

The primary objective of this workstream is to determine forest carbon per unit area in forests planted before 1990. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million hectares of forest was established in the country prior to 1990. This amounts to only 4 per cent of New Zealand’s land area. In comparison, the total area of planted forest was 1.8 million hectares as at 1 April 2005.

Approach

The approach is still to be decided. 

Whichever approach is used it will produce a robust forest sampling system including statistical design, data collection, measurement protocols and quality control procedures.

These measures will ensure representative and statistically robust estimates.  Total carbon stocks and changes in carbon stocks will be calculated for New Zealand.

Requirement

A robust forest sampling system including statistical design, data collection, measurement protocols and quality control procedures to ensure representative and statistically robust estimates of total carbon stocks and changes in carbon stocks can be calculated for pre-1990 forests on a national scale.

Timing

To date, priority has been given to designing a sampling system for Kyoto forests. It likely that the system for pre-1990 forests will now be implemented following the establishment of a plot network in Kyoto forests. This started in mid 2007.

Last updated: 12 November 2008