According to Ministers Shane Jones and Damien O’Connor, the 1 Billion Trees programme is aimed at farmers, with a target of two-thirds natives and the remainder plantation. Farmers could tap into $240 million in grants but there had not been a big uptake.
“I’ve been puzzled over why they have been so slow to come forward. These are grants, not loans, and there’s another $117m for partnership schemes,” Jones said.
The Government would pay $1500 per hectare of pine forest planted, $1800 per hectare of Manuka trees and $4000 per hectare of mixed native trees.
More at Stuff and the NZ Herald.
