It suggests it can take 30 years for the soil to be suitable for pastoral use again once the trees are chopped down.
But there are questions over the economic feasibility of restoring permanent native forests.
A combination of inflation, bad weather, and falling log prices has caused a reduction in harvests, leaving contractors short of work.
Consistent wet weather is slowing down the recovery.
Newshub asked Aratu Forests Limited CEO Neil Woods if he accepted responsibility and felt guilty.
An inquiry has been launched, but the damage has already been done.
"It's this incredible balance of physics and botany and sport and art."
The cost of energy used to heat glasshouses has skyrocketed.
Māori forestry owners are being encouraged not to plant pine.
The industry says it's facing a "perfect storm" of skyrocketing demand and being unable to meet staffing needs.
Should they plant in pine for carbon credits or take a hit and return it to native forest. Or is there a third option?
"I'm not sure we agree that there was no pressure on him to perform."
Almost 180,000ha of farming land was purchased or leased by foreign interests between 2010 and 2021.
It would use waste from the forestry sector and reduce our dependence on fossils fuels.
It is set to transition to become a professional advisory and management service.
Locals are disheartened by the prospect of more forestry in the area as the industry grows.
"The issue with natives is they're extremely expensive and challenging to plant and establish. "
Processors are slamming successive governments for failing to support New Zealand's struggling wood processing mills.
Around half of all logs harvested in New Zealand go to the domestic market.