OPINION: Beware the snag in the incentivised pushing by central and local government to get hill country into trees.

If farmers want to offset their emissions under the likely Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), then it is rational to plant forestry and get the carbon credits for that, says Farm Foresters Association president Neil Cullen.

Changes coming through from the Government on overseas investment in forestry have pros and cons, says Christina Lefever, a special council with law firm Duncan Cotterill.

The government is looking at how to get more trees planted as a key part of meeting its Paris agreement obligations, says Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett.

Rationalisation of the sawmill industry will continue, says Marty Verry, chief executive of Red Stag Timber, which is building a $60m 'supermill' at Rotorua.

Everyone is watching global currency, says Russell Taylor, president, International Wood Markets Group.

Forest owners say kinks in the laws covering the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) need to be ironed out.

Technology transfer, an industry census and promotion of careers in forestry are all planned in 2016 by the Forest Growers Levy Trust.

Forest operations will continue in Nelson and Marlborough forests during summer, except when the fire risk is at its highest.

Forest owners are welcoming the review of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.