A rise in applications for erosion control grants in the eastern North Island has been attributed in part to interest in growing trees for carbon trading.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has approved 27 new applications from landowners who want to plant trees to control erosion under the East Coast Forestry Project.
That will cover almost 5000 hectares of land, more than twice the area approved last year.
MAF sustainable programmes manager for the North Island, Randolph Hambling, says the increase is due to Gisborne District Council requirements for erosion control, higher log prices and an interest in carbon forestry.
Of the areas approved
for the next three years, 83% will be planted in forest and the rest will revert to native bush or be planted in poplar or willow.
Mr Hambling says about a third of the area approved for the latest grants is Maori land.
Since it started in 1992, more than 34,000 hectares of land has been planted or allowed to revert to native bush under the East Coast Forest Project.
