Wood Matters

New Zealand’s indigenous forests are globally unique, ecologically rich, and deeply woven into the nation’s identity. But they are also under threat — from invasive pests, habitat degradation, and climate change. While efforts to protect and restore these ecosystems have long relied on public funding and volunteer labour, a new opportunity is emerging - biodiversity credits. By quantifying and monetising the ecological gains achieved through indigenous forest management — particularly pest control — New Zealand could attract significant overseas investment into conservation, while delivering local jobs, stronger ecosystems, and aligned outcomes for Māori landowners.

Biodiversity credits are a relatively new but rapidly growing concept in the sustainability world. Just as carbon credits represent a tonne of carbon sequestered or avoided, biodiversity credits represent measurable improvements in ecosystem health — such as the return of indigenous birds, increased species diversity, or successful regeneration of native understory. These credits can be purchased by businesses, governments, or impact investors looking to offset their biodiversity impacts or support nature-positive outcomes.

Few countries are better placed to lead in this space than New Zealand. Our indigenous forests host a remarkable array of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. This high ecological distinctiveness makes biodiversity gains here particularly valuable on the international stage — especially to companies seeking credible, high-integrity biodiversity offsets.

One of New Zealand’s most effective tools for improving biodiversity is pest control. Introduced predators like possums, rats, and stoats wreak havoc on native birds and forest ecosystems. Intensive, sustained pest management has been shown to dramatically improve biodiversity, and these outcomes are now increasingly measurable through modern monitoring techniques such as acoustic sensors, remote cameras, and satellite imagery.

If we can capture these gains in a scientifically credible and verifiable biodiversity crediting system, we can unlock a new stream of investment into our forests. International corporates, particularly in sectors like mining, infrastructure, and agriculture, are under pressure to mitigate their biodiversity impacts and demonstrate environmental stewardship. New Zealand could offer them a reliable, transparent, and politically stable place to invest in biodiversity restoration.

This opportunity is particularly exciting for Māori landowners. Many iwi and hapū seek to restore native bush as part of broader goals around environmental stewardship and cultural connection to whenua. Biodiversity credits could provide a long-term revenue stream that supports pest control, jobs, and ecosystem restoration — all aligned with the principles of kaitiakitanga.

Of course, challenges remain. New Zealand would need a robust national framework to define biodiversity baselines, verify ecological gains, and ensure the permanence of outcomes. But the building blocks are already here: strong ecological science, a reputation for environmental credibility, and a growing appetite for nature-based solutions.

In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, New Zealand has an opportunity not just to protect its natural heritage, but to turn conservation into a viable investment proposition. With biodiversity credits, we can invite the world to partner with us — not in exploiting our landscapes, but in healing them.