Slash & forestry management changes proposed

Slash & forestry management changes proposed – reactions

Friday 18 Jul 2025

Less than two weeks remain for the public to have their say on sweeping proposals to change many aspects of the RMA, including how forestry and slash are managed.

Under proposed changes to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF), councils would be more restricted in their ability to set harder controls. Other proposals would require all forest harvests to have ‘slash mobilisation risk assessments’ as part of their harvest management plans, and/or change requirements around slash removal.

Consultation on the proposed NES-CF runs until Sunday, 27 July 2025.

Dr Steve Urlich, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management, Lincoln University, commented, “Stabilising hill country is a national emergency as intense rainfall occurs more frequently. Recent cyclones and atmospheric rivers have led to loss of life, profound economic and infrastructure damage, and ecosystem degradation."

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Source: Science Media Centre

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