Foresters fed up over Kyoto stuff up 

First it was the farmers threatening revolt, now it is forestry owners who are fired up over the government's climate change policies.

The Forest Owners Association has told its members to ban government officials from their land in protest at Labour's handling of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

Dunedin forest owner Phil Taylor is in the business of growing trees but his local business is caught up in a global warming row with the government.

Under the Kyoto Protocol carbon emissions are taxed, but countries are able to earn credits for forests because of the trees' ability to absorb carbon.

"We need the government to appreciate the fact that plantation forests such as this are not part of the problem when it comes to global warming, but they are definitely part of the solution," says Peter Weir from the NZ Forest Owners' Association.

Taylor says by locking out government officials, they will not be able to monitor carbon levels and meet their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

"If this was to become widespread then there would be serious implications for our ability to keep good accounts of our carbon," says Climate Change Minister Pete Hodgson.

Forest owners claim they and not the government should receive $2.5 billion worth of carbon credits.

"To say that we have nationalised the credits is simply wrong, no country in the world has devolved credits to foresters," Hodgson says.

Foresters claim because they are not getting the rewards, they are planting less and more land is being converted to dairy farming - all of which harms New Zealand's Kyoto position.

Hodgson says low log prices have more to do with that. He says the foresters lockout is sad and silly and he points out the government has the power to force its way on to the land. He says he would prefer not to use that power.

The revolt by forest owners comes after the embarrassing admission that rather than a $500 million credit, New Zealand faces a $500 million loss under Kyoto.

With the contentious issue of access to farm land also in the headlines, the government faces the prospect another loss - that of the rural vote.