“Bulldoze the trees, bring in the cows - In recent times we’re seen large-scale deforestation to make way for the intensification of dairy farming in New Zealand. Our agricultural sector is already responsible for nearly half of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions, and through the intensification, deforestation and expansion of the dairy sector this contribution is set to soar. Remember that under the Government’s emission trading scheme, the sector doesn’t need to take responsibility for its emissions until 2013. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry some 455,000 hectares of forestry land is at risk of being deforested and converted into pastoral use. This is nearly seven times the size of Lake Taupo. Government figures also project that the number of dairy cows in New Zealand will increase by up to 21 per cent by 2010. We can expect a corresponding increase in greenhouse gas emissions; to say nothing of dirty streams and waterways.”
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