However by the mid-1980s environmental concern had arisen over the destruction of natural forests, especially on the West Coast where some of the largest areas of unprotected natural forests remained. This led to an agreement, known as the West Coast Forest Accord, providing for the establishment of a large network of reserves while also providing for the ongoing supply of natural timbers through sustainable beech and rimu management. With the removal of so much of New Zealand s natural forests, the habitats of many plants and animals have been disturbed. The introduction of browsing animals and exotic plant species has affected the ecology of the natural forests. The near extinction of many of New Zealand s birds is partly due to these factors.
Carbon is one of the basic building blocks of all living organisms.
In natural forests the carbon cycle is roughly in balance, that is, the amount of CO 2 taken up by plants during photosynthesis is equal to the amount released through decay. Elsewhere, native timber is harvested from Maori land in western Southland, and from other privately owned land. As far as possible the timber produced from sawlogs is used in the high quality furniture and finishing market, and species such as rimu are regarded as the premier species in the New Zealand market. Veneer and Plywood Logs of good shape and quality are peeled or sliced to produce decorative veneers and plywood used for furniture and decorative panelling. These are also widely used in the New Zealand market and have premier status.