With about 5% of New Zealand’s plantation forests are in Nelson Tasman, Forestry and Wood Processing is a significant economic driver for the region, providing $175m of GDP (2021), 2049 jobs and an extended supply chain. Beyond the immediate economic returns, the importance of forests to New Zealand goes well beyond commercial timber production. New Zealand’s forests have spiritual, social, cultural, environmental as well as economic importance.
Nelson Tasman is home to one of the largest MDF plants in the world and the region has New Zealand’s highest concentration of specialist processing, particularly in laminated and structural wood products. The region is ranked third to fourth for forestry and logging, sawmilling and forestry support services.
Nelson Tasman is the location of many key stakeholders in Forestry and Wood Processing – resulting in a wide and deep network of relationships, processes and systems that drive sustainability, innovation and industry growth.
The global outlook for the forestry and logging market is positive - estimated at USD285.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach a revised size of USD438.5 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% over the period 2022-2027...(drivers are) increased construction of wooden buildings, adoption of automated forest management, increased use of biomass, and growing demand for wooden furniture.
Forests store carbon from the atmosphere, helping offset other sectors’ greenhouse gas emissions. Forestry and wood processing already make an important contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand’s bioeconomy. Reducing gross emissions from the sectors that make up our economy is the Government’s priority – but forestry has a part to play in offsetting the emissions of sectors that cannot easily reduce or remove their emissions. It also contributes to lowering gross emissions in other sectors through providing inputs to the bioeconomy. Forestry can provide flexibility in our path to a cost- effective, timely and equitable transition
