Farmers in New Zealand are converting forest areas back to livestock farming.

Farmers Sam Hain and Matt Long have begun restoring a productive livestock farm on a 400-hectare plot that was planted with pine four years ago. To achieve this, they are using an integrated approach to clear the area of trees. Young plantations in accessible areas are being destroyed using heavy machinery, while more mature specimens are undergoing chemical treatment for subsequent natural decomposition.

At the current stage, the territory lacks basic infrastructure: there are no residential buildings, fences, or farm buildings, all of which were previously dismantled. Due to high infrastructure restoration costs, the farmers have abandoned sheep farming, focusing instead on beef cattle production. Currently, about 650 head of cattle are grazing on the site, helping to control the growth of young pines. To manage the herd in an area without fences, virtual fencing systems are being used.

Sam Hain and Matt Long, working in partnership with their spouses Jemma Hain and Kate Long, note the complexity of the project. Approximately 75 hectares of relatively flat land are planned to be used for intensive cattle fattening, clearing them of trees using a tractor.

This case is considered unique, as industry experts have not previously recorded examples of converting forest areas back into agricultural land. According to Orme and Associates, about 330,000 hectares of sheep and beef farms have been sold for afforestation over the last decade.

Agricultural groups, such as Federated Farmers, criticize mass afforestation, pointing to increased forest fire risks and the accumulation of woody debris, as well as the loss of jobs in rural areas. According to Beef + Lamb NZ statistics, the meat sector plays a significant role in the New Zealand economy, contributing 4% to GDP and supporting over 120,000 jobs. Consultants, meanwhile, warn that restoring mature forests involves high costs associated with carbon obligations.