20th June 2022 Newsletter

PRESIDENTS COLUMN

Last week we released a media release stating our belief He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) was not strong enough and called for the Government to reject it and place agriculture into the ETS. We do not say this lightly as we would have preferred to see agriculture form a scheme which suits their issues while make inroads into the emissions we all know arise from farming. Sadly HWEN does not do this and in fact could be cynically seen as agriculture doing the bare minimum they believe they can get away with. This is no longer a game. Climate change is real and every sector needs to find ways to actively reduce their emissions. While travelling to Gisborne this week I saw a 50 Shades of Green sign saying ‘you can not eat pine trees’ my immediate response was you can not grow food in a consistent drought! A copy of our media release is in this newsletter.

Your new council met for the first time on the 10th. This was mainly an induction session with some discussion over strategy. We have a large number of new councillors and I look forward to having their views and thoughts on the council. As discussed previously the Forest Advisors Registration scheme will take a lot of our time, but linked to this will be improving CPD opportunities, updating standards (such as the valuation standards), strengthening our own Registration Scheme, being more vocal on forestry matters on all forest types, and encouraging more networking (after Covid has slowed this up considerably).

The conference is also open for registration. Please register early. The team have a fantastic program and I encourage you all to attend, it will help you get your CPD up for both registration schemes. We still have some sponsorship opportunities open so please contact me if you would like to help us with sponsorship. We aim to ensure our conference is one of the least expensive for our members and sponsors play a big part in this. I thank all sponsors who have already agreed to help with this conference.

The committee working with MPI on the development of the Forest Advisors Registration scheme continues to toil away to ensure the scheme is practical and fair. Our advice to members stays the same; don’t rush in a register on the 6th of August, there is still too much uncertainty. We will let you know when we feel you should register. Please note we are working on a reduce fee for all members, and hopefully a near zero fee for registered members. For this reason alone I suggest you hold off registering. Remember you do not legally need to be registered until 6 August 2023.

As always if you have any questions or thoughts do not hesitate to contact me. Have a safe a productive fortnight.

Thanks

James

2022 CONFERENCE

NZIF member feedback regularly raises the Emissions Trading Scheme as a crucial topic for ongoing professional development. To facilitate this, we are delighted to confirm that Te Uru Rākau have agreed to run the first 2 hour CPD session on the Sunday morning. This will see Oliver Hendrickson – Director of forestry and land management give a high level overview of the ETS changes and results from the most recent consultation (if available). Oliver will be supported by Te Uru Rakau team members who will then workshop some of the practical issues and technical challenges NZIF members may be dealing with on a regular basis. This is a great chance to learn and provide feedback to Te Uru Rākau for the benefit of the industry.

The second CPD session is focused on Environmental Risks, Adverse Weather Events and Catchment Management. Sally Strang will provide insight from a national industry perspective, while Kit Richards will share key learnings from the historic Tolaga Bay weather event. This session will be complemented by a separate address around the unique riparian arrangement that Aratu and eLandNZ have commenced within the Aratu estate in Tairāwhiti Gisborne Region.

We encourage members to take the opportunity to attend one or both of the CPD sessions, providing valuable professional development and a unique setting to directly engage with subject matter experts.

Accommodation Option for Conference Delegates:

The Hilton Auckland has offered Conference Delegates the discounted room rate of $230.00 for the nights of Sunday 11^th and Monday 12^th September. To book see here

Please note that is discounted rate is only available until the 27th June. 

Other options
Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland see here

Auckland Harbour Suites see here

ibis budget Auckland Central see here

NZIF would like to thank our sponsors for the upcoming Auckland Conference.

INSTITUTE NEWS

The Secretary of the NZIF is calling for nominations for the following;

Forester of the Year award

Prince of Wales award for Sustainable Forestry

NZIF Fellows

Nominations need to be emailed to the Secretary at admin@nzif.org.nz no later than 5pm Sunday, 31st July 2022

Recipients will be announced at the NZIF AGM and the awards dinner, 11th - 12th September 2022

Nomination forms and more specific requirements can be found online:

Nomination forms

Regards

Lania Holt

NZIF Secretary

MEDIA RELEASE

Media Release 

FORESTRY INDUSTRY CHALLENGES THE GAPS IN HE WAKA EKE NOA

Aotearoa’s forestry sector has been committed to a proactive stance in the battle against climate change, since it entered the ETS  in 2008. In the fourteen years since then there’s been a lack of real commitment from agriculture to join the fight.

The recent release of He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) offers little hope for change according to the NZ Institute of Forestry (NZIF) President James Treadwell.  Treadwell acknowledges forestry and agriculture must, and often do, work side by side. “Agriculture is a material export earner for the nation and its on-going viability and success matters hugely, we also recognise agriculture supports many individual farmers and rural communities.”

“Unfortunately since forestry entered the ETS over a decade ago, we have seen a lot of talk and very little action from agriculture to respond to climate change.” Treadwell adds “This lack of action has compounded the problems New Zealand now faces, and sadly we don’t see HWEN offering any sort of decent roadmap to face the current reality we all must deal with.”

NZIF is calling for the Government to do the right thing for NZ Inc. as a whole. “It’s time to stop buckling to the agricultural sector lobbying, and farmers with a ‘head in the sand’ denial of the real issues.”

Treadwell asks “Where’s the incentive in HWEN for farmers to seek advice or just get on with tree planting?  As drafted the HWEN proposals are no help: they’re more of a free pass for agriculture to ignore reality.”

NZIF acknowledges some positives from HWEN. It identifies forests as offset opportunities within farm systems. A positive outcome which will provide some breathing space while farm systems adapt. Treadwell believes it’s exactly the sort of action plan which should have been in place for the last decade. 

However, there are some deep rooted issues with HWEN. NZIF find it unacceptable a farmer dominated Board will retain oversight over the HWEN, and in particular future price setting for agriculture emissions.  NZIF also believe the proposed levy price, 5-10% of the current market price for an NZU (a tonne of carbon) shows little commitment to climate change.  It would also enable farmers to profit from sequestration while paying little for emissions. “A farmer could plant a small area in trees and enter the ETS selling their NZU’s for $70 or more, which under HWEN would enable them to then emit 10 tonnes of carbon for each tone they have sequested.  HWEN therefore has the potential to allow agriculture to increase its emissions.”

In the past, the farming sector has claimed it shouldn’t be captured in the ETS because there is inadequate science or options to reduce emissions. But NZIF is calling out this as fake news. “Many leading farmers are demonstrating profitable livestock farming with reduced intensity of stocking and fertiliser.  Farmers also have land on which they can plant trees. A portion of their land (circa 10% - 20% depending on farm type) in trees would offset livestock farming emissions.”  NZIF believe this denial is no longer an appropriate response. Climate resilience is vitally important for all New Zealanders including farmers.

Forests and wetlands are particularly important in this era of climate change, as they help moderate the impact of severe weather events. Hillsides denuded of forest cover shed more water during intense rainfall events, leading to more extreme flood events downstream, damaging downstream infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems. Forest and wetlands ‘soak-up’ intense rainfall and prevent or at least slow and reduce the impact of flood events. Trees on farms increase soil stability, and livestock welfare (shade and windbreaks). Planting of trees and restoration of natural ecosystems on erosion-prone land, riparian zones, and wetlands in our rural areas needs to be a priority. This will increase carbon sequestration, water quality, and biodiversity values. There should be no argument from the agriculture sector about the need to plant trees on their properties: it’s not just good for NZ Inc. but it will also increase farming profitability.

In the big picture, New Zealand is risking its future and potential reputational damage. Will our overseas consumers of high end “Pure NZ” agricultural produce decide it is no longer so pure? And shop elsewhere? Only time will tell. But the NZ government has the opportunity to address imbalance and accountability around emissions right now.

James Treadwell.

President NZIF

EVENTS

NZIF: Webinar on the NZIF Future Foresters SIG, and NZIF Council goals for the next term.

6pm Wednesday 22 June 2022, via Zoom

To update members about the future of the Future Foresters SIG, and to provide members with a view of what your new Council sees as the priorities for the current 2 year term.

The purpose of this Webinar is to update members about the future of the Future Foresters SIG, and to provide members with a view of what your new Council sees as the priorities for the current 2 year term, and to provide some recommendations regarding the Crowns Forest Advisors Registration Scheme

This is an opportunity for direct interaction between NZIF members and the Council through the President over what will probably be the most important 2 years in the NZIF history.

Presenters

Adrian Loo is a past graduate of the University of Canterbury having completed a Bachelor of Forestry Science with First Class Honours, a Certificate in Commerce and a Master of Forestry Science degree with distinction. He is a founding member of the Future Foresters and works in Canterbury as part of the Forest Management Ltd team. Adrian was the winner of the Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup in 2020 recognising the achievements of an outstanding young forest professional who is highly engaged in the principles of sustainable forest management. Adrian was co-opted to Council during its last term, and was elected Treasurer for the 2022-2024 term.

Adrian’s presentation will highlight the Future Forester achievements since conception.

Marcella Pitts is a recent graduate from the University of Canterbury School of Forestry. A member of the Future Forester SIG committee, Marcella has recently taken up a Technical Forester position based in Rotorua. Marcella will be part of the team moving the Future Foresters SIG forward.

Marcella’s presentation will outline what the Future Forester SIG plan to achieve over the next 5 years, and how NZIF members can assist.

James Treadwell is deeply entrenched in the forestry sector. He has over 30 years of experience in the NZ forest corporate environment. Dedicated to the business of safe, sustainable, profitable forestry, James is a committed industry professional. He has contributed to the NZIF for over a decade and enters his fourth term as NZIF President. James has developed a unique bird’s eye perspective of all things forestry related. James has worked across all levels of the industry, from the forest floor to the boardroom table and beyond. An astute strategist and manager of people, James has a strong commercial background, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the NZ forest state. James is a respected, collaborative thought leader for the industry. Passionate about the future of forestry, he capably flags prescient issues with government policy makers, and spearheads change, working to create a better future for forestry in NZ.

James’s presentation will outline what the newly elected NZIF Council will aim to achieve over the next 2 year term and how members can assist with these goals.

Register here

MEMBERS VOICE

NZIF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

– Can NZ establish 300,000 ha of new native forest by 2035?

The Climate Change Commission in its report to government made two recommendations that interested me:

·        Establish 380,000 hectares of new fast growing exotic forests by 2035 to offset emissions from other sources;

·        Establish 300,000 hectares of new native forest by 2035 to provide a permanent carbon store from 2050 onwards.

There doesn’t seem to be anything in the emissions reduction plan or in the budget that directly addresses those two recommendations – will the government accept them, or won’t it?

The first recommendation is not much of a challenge.  It is only 25-30,000 ha/year, the sort of target New Zealand has easily managed in the past.  But the second is much more of a challenge.  I have asked a number of people if it could be achieved, but only received mixed or vague answers.  More prevalent in the media are the voices of some forestry professionals saying such a target is a waste of time, native forest just grows too slowly and it is a waste of effort to even try.  But I also note that most of those voices appear to come from those with a more vested interest in commercial plantations and the ETS.

NZIF, New Zealand’s association for forestry professionals, should be able to answer the question “Can New Zealand create 300,000 ha of new native forests by 2035?  How will it be achieved and what is involved?”  Within our membership we have most of the professionals actively involved in researching and establishing native forests – scientists, practitioners, etc.

Are any of you interested in establishing an NZIF special interest group, prepared to provide a report to the NZIF Council by early next year that answers the questions?  It would be necessary to define the task more specifically than as written by the Commission (what does “establish” mean in this context, what is “new” forest, etc), to determine how successful achievement could be measured, look at issues like seed availability, the role of ecosourcing, research needs, establishment techniques, species selection, pest and disease control, etc.

These are the NZIF Rules for the operation of a special interest group.

Those interested, please email admin@nzif.org.nz.

Andrew McEwen, NZIF Registered Forester

FOUNDATION AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NZIF FOUNDATION 2022 AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications are invited for the awards and scholarships offered by the NZIF Foundation for 2022.  The total value of awards offered is $24,700.

The awards open for application are:

• A Future Forest Scholarship for post graduate research of up to $10,000
• The New Zealand Redwood Company Scholarship of $5,000 for an undergraduate scholarship at the University of Canterbury School Forestry
• One or more Otago Southland Awards up to a combined total of $5,200 to assist a project or projects of relevance to forestry in the Otago/Southland region
• A Mary Sutherland Scholarship of $1,000 for a polytechnic student
• A University Undergraduate Scholarship of $1,000
• A Frank Hutchinson Postgraduate scholarship of $1,000
• Student poster prizes at NZIF Conference (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes of $800, $500 and $200)

Applications are now open.  Further details and an application form are available on the Foundation web page (https://www.nzif.org.nz/about-us/nzif-foundation/ )

Applications must be received by the Foundation administrator (foundation@nzif.org.nz) no later than 5pm on Monday 22^nd August 2022.  The awards will be announced at the Awards Dinner at the NZ Institute of Forestry conference being held in Auckland from 11^th to 13^th September 2022.

Enquires to the Foundation (foundation@nzif.org.nz) or phone +64 4 974 8421.

Please pass on this notice to your networks and to anyone you think may be eligible to apply.  Membership of NZIF is not a requirement for application.

About the NZIF Foundation

The NZIF Foundation was established in 2011 by the NZ Institute of Forestry to advance education in relation to forestry.  This includes encouraging and supporting forestry related research, education and training through the provision of grants, scholarships and prizes; promoting the acquisition, development and dissemination of forestry related knowledge and information and other activities that do not conflict with the charitable purpose.  For the purposes of these awards, forestry is broadly defined to include all those activities involved in the management and use of forests and their products, the objects of which are the production of wood or other forest benefits and the maintenance of the environment in its most beneficial form.  All forests in New Zealand, whatever their purpose, are encompassed in the definition.

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