Farm foresters have warned the Government that continuing uncertainty over climate change policy and emissions trading will further erode an already diminished forestry sector.
The Farm Forestry Association made submissions this week to a Parliamentary committee reviewing the existing emissions trading scheme.
The association says that like other parts of the industry, farm forestry has suffered a marked decline in tree planting in the past few years.
It says possible gains offered by carbon sales for eligible forests had led to the first signs of renewed interest in forestry last year.
However, association president Patrick Milne says the new Government's decision to review the emissions trading scheme has stymied that interest.
He says planting will be put on hold until the concerns have been allayed, and nurseries are already reporting a low rate of orders for trees.
Foresters also want deforestation penalties and restrictions for forests planted before 1990 removed from the emissions trading rules.
The association says other sectors need to be brought into the scheme as soon as possible if an effective carbon market is to be established.
It says excluding agriculture in particular would require a major subsidy from taxpayers and distort land use in favour of agriculture at forestry's expense.
