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National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF)
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NES-CF, recognized by Otago Regional Council, regulates commercial forestry blocks over 1 hectare, providing consistent rules under the Resource Management Act.
The National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) came into effect on 1 May 2018. This was amended to the National Environmental Standard for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF) on 3 November 2023 to add exotic continuous-cover forests (carbon forests) to its scope.
The standards are a single set of nationally consistent regulations under the Resource Management Act that give foresters more certainty and improve efficiency.
If you have a forestry block larger than one hectare that was planted specifically for commercial activities, the NES-CF will apply to you.
The NES-CF sets out rules for eight plantation forestry activities:
- afforestation
- pruning and thinning to waste
- earthworks
- river crossings
- forest quarrying
- harvesting
- mechanical land preparation
- replanting
Most forestry activities are permitted by the NES-CF so long as foresters meet specific conditions designed to protect the environment. If foresters can’t meet these conditions, they need to apply for a resource consent.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have developed some resources to explain the NES-CF. Find out more on the MPI website or call 0800 88 83 33.
The NES-CF requires foresters to give notice to the ORC before undertaking permitted commercial forestry activities, including:
- afforestation
- replanting
- earthworks
- river crossings
- forestry quarrying
- harvesting
regulations 10, 25, 38, 52, 64 and 78
Before 1 May 2018, forestry activities in Otago were managed under the Water Plan. This changed when the NES-PF came into effect.
The NES-CF sets out circumstances in which more stringent plan rules can apply (regulation 6). Our Water Plan retains more stringent rules for discharges of sediment and bed disturbance to protect threatened indigenous fish (i.e. galaxiid species), many of which are found only in Otago.
The Water Plan was amended to include explanatory notes in sections 12.C and 13.5, clarifying where stricter rules in the Water Plan will prevail over rules in the NES-PF. A new Schedule 17 at the back of the plan summarises the rules (NES-PF or plan) that apply to forestry in Otago (see below).
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National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (Part 2) |
Regional Plan: Water for Otago |
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Subpart 1 – Afforestation All regulations apply |
Not applicable. |
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Subpart 8 – Replanting All regulations apply |
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Subpart 2 – Pruning and thinning to waste All regulations apply |
Chapter 12: Rules Water Take, Use & Management 12.C Other discharges 12.C.1 Permitted activities: No resource consent required 12.C.1.1 (d) (e) (f), excluding (iii) 12.C.2 Restricted discretionary activities: Resource consent required 12.C.2.1 12.C.2.2 12.C.2.4 12.C.3 Discretionary activities: 12.C.3.2 |
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Subpart 3 – Earthworks All regulations apply, except 26 replaced |
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Subpart 5 – Forest quarrying All regulations apply, except 56 (1) replaced |
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Subpart 6 – Harvesting All regulations apply, except 65 replaced |
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Subpart 7 – Mechanical land preparation All regulations apply, except 74 (6) replaced |
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Subpart 9 – Ancillary activities All regulations apply, except 90 replaced |
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National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (Part 2) |
Regional Plan: Water for Otago |
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Subpart 3 – Earthworks All regulations apply (except 26 replaced, see above). In addition to 28(2), 13.5.3.1 rule opposite also applies for ephemeral flow paths |
Chapter 13: Rules: Land Use on Lake or River Beds or Regionally Significant Wetlands 13.5 Alteration of the bed of a lake or river, or of a Regionally Significant Wetland 13.5.1 Permitted activities: 13.5.1.1 (g) 13.5.3 Discretionary activities: 13.5.3.1 |
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Subpart 4 – River Crossings All regulations apply. In addition to 44, 13.5.1.1(g) rule opposite applies, if this rule cannot be met then 13.5.3.1 applies. |
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Subpart 6 – Harvesting All regulations apply. In addition to 68(3), rule 13.5.3.1 opposite applies if logs are to be dragged through streams less than 3 metres wide. |
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Subpart 9 – Ancillary activities All regulations apply. In addition to 89, 13.5.1.1(g) rule opposite applies, if this rule cannot be met then 13.5.3.1 applies. |
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Subpart 10 – General provisions All regulations apply. In addition to 97, rule 13.5.3.1 opposite also applies to any bed disturbance outside fish spawning seasons as defined by the Fish Spawning Indicator. |
