Land owners are to be given the right to sell "carbon-credits" generated by certain so-called permanent forests.
Tradable carbon-credits are part of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, and create an economic value for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
A "Permanent Forest Sink Initiative" announced by the Government will apply to native forests planted since 1990 and some more recent exotic forests; but only selective harvesting will be allowed.
Forestry Minister, Jim Anderton, says it will create an economic use for some of New Zealand's more difficult land.
He says "carbon farming" is suitable for isolated and erosion-prone land because it does not require roads or harvesting.Radio New Zealand
