WELLINGTON, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Funding for research to improve New Zealand's native seedling production will boost survivability and create more efficient ways to produce high-quality seedlings, Forestry Minister Shane Jones said on Monday.
The minster's statement was made after climate scientist Jim Salinger claimed the forestry minister's One Billion Trees Program will not reduce carbon emissions, as too few natives are being planted.
Ministry figures show in the program's first year, only 12 percent of the 91 million trees planted were native, but ideally 90 percent of the trees planted should be native species as they store more carbon, Salinger said.
Responding to it, Jones said the program is providing a funding boost of 422,500 NZ dollars (280,788 U.S. dollars) for research to identify more effective native seedling propagation techniques and technology.
"The One Billion Trees Fund we launched last year isn't just about seeing trees in the ground," the minister said, adding that funds have been allocated for partnerships that focus on reducing the barriers to tree planting through research, innovation or sector development.
Jones said a more environmentally friendly approach to seedling production through the use of paper wrap instead of the usual plastic wrap would also be introduced to reduce waste in the industry.
