New forestry advisers register

Landscape architects offering forestry advice as part of their main business need to register with the Ministry for Primary Industries within the next 17 months. From August 6 there will be a one-year transition period for forestry advisers to get themselves registered before being penalised, following the passing of the Forests (Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Act in 2020.

MPI says the system will ensure those offering advice in the sector meet forestry practice standards. Those receiving it can be confident they’re receiving expert and impartial advice from forest advisers with the right knowledge and experience.

Advisers will need to meet a “fit and proper person test”, and may have to provide evidence of their qualifications and experience in the forestry and wood processing sector. A new consumer complaints process will also be established. 

Under the Act, a forestry adviser is someone who provides any of the following services to a client:

• Acting on behalf of another person in relation to their sale or purchase of timber or other forest produce,

• making inspections or preparing reports in connection with another forestry adviser service,

Landscape architects should check whether their work means they need to register. Photo credit: Pixabay

Providing advice relating to:

• establishment, management, or protection of a forest

• management or protection of forest land, including future forest land

• appraisal, harvesting, selling, or use of timber or other forest produce

• appraisal of a forest, forest land, or other forestry sector assets

• applying the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to forestry activities

• the beneficial effects of forests

A person won’t need to register in the new system when forestry advice is incidental to and not the main part of their business. Anyone unsure of what the new act means for them should check the MPI website.