30th November 2020 Newsletter
PRESIDENTS COLUMN
Politics and forestry
Politics and forestry are once again going head to head. NZFOA came out strongly arguing against the National Party’s remit to make it illegal to plant a pine forest if it is unlikely to be harvested. NZFOA stated “The only way this can be deciphered is the National Party wants a National government to subsidise growing large areas of native trees. Viable indigenous tree planting and subsequent ongoing maintenance is very expensive – there is a lot of management required. These trees are also far behind pines, eucalyptus and Douglas-fir, in their rate of carbon dioxide sequestration. If they are planted now, the contribution of native trees to fighting climate change won’t be substantial until next century.”
All this is correct, but I would be interested in members views on the topic. I have had many members concerned about large-scale planting of Pinus radiata for carbon only, in places where the trees will never be harvested. Concerns run along the lines that after 80 plus years these trees will collapse causing large environmental issues, especially as they are often on steep land. Counter arguments to this is native will grow through the pines, therefore the area will eventually return to a native forest.
Like any argument both sides is most likely correct in parts. But how much thought have we put into the long term effects of some of this planting? Yes to maximise the growth of carbon in the short term Pinus radiata is most probably the best choice, but are we causing other issues while we solve the carbon issue? I don’t have the answer, but within our membership we have people with far more knowledge on these questions than I do. I would love to hear all opinions and for them to be debated here in the newsletter. Candid discussion, and debate will enable better decisions to be made.
I have been formally asked my view on this topic by various media. To date I have declined to give a view on behalf of NZIF. To do so I need to understand the view of the members. This is why it is so important you use this newsletter to provide council and myself your thoughts; or if you don’t want to do that send me an email. I and the council represent you; but to represent you I need to hear from you. So if you have a view on the topic of mass planting of radiata for carbon only then please write in.
Today I had a long session with Minister Nash. We covered many topics and I once again offered NZIF as a source of independent advice. We have a Minister who has an excellent knowledge of forestry and is keen to make a difference. Basically we have two years to push an agenda which will benefit us in the future. Let me know areas where you think we should be asking for more political action. Let’s debate what we, as a very diverse sector, actually want to achieve. Remember as a member of NZIF you joined as an individual. So what do you want (rather than your organisation)?
Remember what NZIF’s objectives are:
The Objects of the Institute shall be the advancement of the profession of forestry within New Zealand by means including but not limited to:
6.1. Establishing, maintaining and improving standards of professional forestry; 6.2. Contributing to the development and recognition of good forestry practice;
6.3. Recognising, regulating and supporting those demonstrating competence in the forestry profession;
6.4. Supporting forestry professionals in their career development;
6.5. Representing the forestry profession;
6.6. Acting as an independent advocate for forestry; 6.7. Serving Members by: 6.7.1. Affording them opportunities to express and exchange views; 6.7.2. Encouraging fraternity and “esprit de corps”.
Ask yourself if you are helping advance the above and if you have any views on what we can do to meet these objectives, and then write to the newsletter, let me know directly, or speak to your nearest councillor. This is your Institute and Council are in place to govern it as you direct. Provide us with the direction.
Thanks
James
James Treadwell (FNZIF, MInstD)
CEO
Registered Forester
MEMBERS VOICE
I would like to add my thoughts to the members voice contributions by Howard Moore and Andrew McEwen in earlier newsletters. As a former Councillor, I too understand the difficulties in convincing members to stand for Council and the administration costs imposed in retaining a Council that may be larger than required. I suspect there have been times when elected Councillors haven’t shared workloads equitably, either through lack of commitment or simply not having the required skills or confidence to participate in a more meaningful way. Importantly, elected Councillors continue to contribute on a voluntary basis in a rapidly changing environment where their employment circumstances often introduce significant pressures on non-work time. I appreciate that the NZIF rules allow for co-opting of people to serve on Council however where the Council is large the willingness to add a few more people into the mix is not always there. The idea of reducing Council size to a core 6-8 elected members, supplemented by short term appointments for specific purposes or required skill sets seems eminently sensible to me.
Our President raised the issue of confusion arising from the vote at the AGM on the motion to make changes to the number of elected Councillors. This process became messy when counting the votes of members in physical attendance and those attending via Zoom. Rule 112 states that any motion to change the rules must be approved by two-thirds of the full voting members in attendance at the start of the meeting. My understanding is that the motion was lost as a number of attendees votes not indicating a preference were counted as “no” votes. This seems anomalous as those members clearly didn’t express an opinion. Water under the bridge now but one possible solution that Council may consider in any rule changes required to address this is to introduce a third option that enables members to abstain. The two-thirds majority required would then be calculated on the number of “yes” votes as a percentage of the total “yes” plus “no” votes. As is common practice, abstentions do not count in tallying the vote negatively or positively but will of course count when confirming a meeting quorum.
A much simpler solution might be to clarify the definition of eligible voting members present verses those that actually vote, but that might require me to write another paragraph.
Regards
John Schrider
FNZIF Registered Forestry Consultant
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Have your say!
Ideas, thoughts or advice?? Send it through to admin@nzif.org.nz
INSTITUTE UPDATE
Registration Board Member - Alan Bell
Main fields of expertise are in forest valuations, estate modelling, forest inventory and analysis of harvesting options. My clients vary from major corporates such as Juken NZ through to owners of small woodlots.
In October 2018 I became Registrar for the NZIF Registered Members scheme.
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Biography of Mary Sutherland
Many NZIF members will know that Mary Sutherland was a founding member of NZIF and designer of the official seal that is the basis of the current logo. She was a NZIF councillor (1935–36) and vice president (1941–42), and her bequest seeded the Mary Sutherland scholarship that is offered annually by the NZIF Foundation. What may not be well known is that she was the first woman forestry graduate in the world.
Book Review: A Path Through the Trees by Vivien Edwards Read more
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NZ Journal of Forestry
Latest NZ Journal of Forestry is On-line
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Online CPD
Were you unable to attend the CPD workshops on the 26th September?
We have had the presentations recorded and these are available to view online:
• Overview of ETS transformation - Emily Geck
• ETS 1989 Land eligibility - Phillip Lubeck
• Changes for the ETS - Steven Cox
• Code of Ethics - Andrew McEwen and Peter Casey
and the PowerPoint presentation of
• Forests (Log Trader and Forestry Advisors) Amendment Act 2020 - Antonia Reid
Please email Raewyn at admin@nzif.org.nz to let me know you want to view them. I will send you an invoice for $80 and once you have paid I will allow you access to the Dropbox file.
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Christmas Office Hours
The NZIF office will be open until midday 23rd Dec 2020 and re open 11th January 2021.
The last Newsletter for 2020 will be on the 14th Dec and the first for 2021 will be on the 8th February.
