13th February 2023 Newsletter
PRESIDENTS COLUMN
As yet another cyclone hits NZ and the North Island prepares for the worse, forestry is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, our social licence is taking a hammering, but we seem to have few answers. I have had many conversations with media since the last newsletter on the effects of cyclone Hale and the East Coast. I also continue to get questions about Fish and Games media release stating production forestry is destroying waterways. I have made a formal complaint to the CEO of F&G about the false facts presented but had no response.
In regards to the East Coast and the calls for an enquiry, our position has been we support an enquiry on land use on the East Coast but not one solely on forest practices. The issues on the east coast; and other regions such as Coromandel, Nelson, Northland; are more about the way we use the land than just forest practices. Should we be building in flood plains? What Forest type is best for steep country? Have we destroyed our wetlands which use to ‘manage’ large flood flows etc.
We all know trees on erodible soils are better than grass, and we also know clearfell and the 3-5 years after are risky times for us. What we are not clear on is how to mitigate this risk or how to highlight the message trees are better than no trees. When slash blocks bridges and lands on beaches then it is understandable some in the public ask whether no trees would be better.
As a sector we do not have clear messages coming from all the associations. In fact there is often no clear leadership and each association responds to media questions without first ensuring all the sector are singing from the same hymn sheet. We need to do better and we need to have 2-3 very clear statements which highlight our social licence and in without jargon explain why we need forests.
Whilst the EDS is calling for a review of forest practices, it was pleasing to see the submission from the east coast look more at a review of land use. Like ocean retreat the use of highly erodible steep land is going to be difficult. If change is required who pays for it and how is the change implemented. The call for native is strong, but no one is clear how to get hundreds of thousands of hectares of steep country into native and ensure they survive the first 20 years. DoC already had areas of mature native which are degrading due to our introduced pests. Newly planted native seedlings will be a smorgasbord for our pest mammals!
The NZIF Council is keen for a Special Interest Group (SIG) to be set up to examine these issues and to not only seek solutions, but to be able to speak up when media misrepresent or challenge our social licence. If you are interested in being part of this SIG please let Raewyn know (admin@nzif.org.nz).
Council met this week with the budget, management of registered members via the registration board and our key goals for the term being the main areas of discussion. Once we have updated the budget we will publish them on the website along with our goals. I will let you know once they are up via this newsletter.
The latest submission on Natural and Built Environment is on the website under members only section for those members who wish to read it Read more My thanks once again goes out to Kit who did the vast majority of the work on this large submission. We are currently working on the RFA submission and the Market Governance of the ETS, both due in the next 2 weeks.
For those who are unaware, Jay has finished all her projects and left NZIF. This means we will be looking for additional help for Raewyn. We are working through a position description and aim to advertise soon. I would like to thank Jay for her years of service. She has managed NZIF fantastically over her time with us and help bring in many initiatives such as the salary survey, improved website, journal on line and of course many successful conferences.
The Registrar has also stated he will finish at the end of June so we are looking for a new Registrar, and we continue to look for an editor for the Journal. Again I thank Alan for his dedicated work in this role. It is a role which quietly goes on in the background but is pivotal to the professionalism of NZIF.
The RFA process continues to frustrate and take far too much time. I am probably spending a day a week in this at present and feel I am going around in circles. In talking to FOA we are prepared to give the process until April after which if still there is no clarity we will take the issue public.
Stay safe out there this week.
Thanks
James
