**2.4 Carbon credits**

New Zealand operates an Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), whereby landowners can gain tradeable carbon credits by planting trees in their landscape to sequester carbon. The requirements (30% canopy cover, tree species height at maturity >5 m, treed area at least 1 hectare, mean width at least 30 m across) (https://www.mpi.govt.nz/forestry/forestry-in-the-emissions-trading-scheme/) provide sufficient tree densities to both gain credits and be effective in preventing shallow landslides.

## **2.5 Societal sensibility**

There is a strong social stigma associated with any action or inaction that damages the natural environment. Rural landowners are held responsible for environmental damage from soil erosion and waterway contamination, and this is a significant driver for erosion management. Many community groups supported by government bodies are planting public areas such as streambanks with native woody vegetation, and rural landowners are being challenged to demonstrate the same environmental awareness.
