Te Uru Rākau NZ Forest Service and the Ministry for the Environment have been working with the Bioeconomy Science Institute (formerly Scion), to update the Wilding Tree Risk Calculator, which must be used by landowners when planting new exotic forests.
(Some will recall a presentation on this from the Bioeconomy Science Institute (formerly Scion) at the 2024 wilding pine conference – slides available from wildingpinenetwork.org.nz/conference-presentations/)
Under the NES-CF (Commercial Forestry), effective since 2018 as the NES-PF (Plantation Forestry), a wilding spread risk assessment must be carried out before planting any commercial forest over 1 hectare. This includes forests for harvested timber, and since 2023, those planted as permanent/carbon forests known as “exotic continuous-cover forests”. It now also applies to replanting after a production plantation forest is harvested.
An updated Wilding Tree Risk Calculator is being developed, with improvements based on feedback, including advice that the National Programme developed with our Technical Advisory Group. The updated calculator is expected to be available for use before the end of 2025.
If you would like to be informed when the new Wilding Tree Risk Calculator is available, or have questions, email nes-cf@mpi.govt.nz
This article explains more about the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry
See the Land Management tab on this site for more about well managed forestry and how it is different to wilding infestations.
Access the current calculator here: mpi.govt.nz/forestry/national-environmental-standards-commercial-forestry/wilding-tree-risk-calculator/