4th December 2024 Newsletter
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Dear Members
As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on what has been an incredibly busy period leading into Christmas. The past few months have brought a whirlwind of activity, with demands on my time coming from all directions. Meetings with officials, the Minister, the Department of Conservation, DG MPI and Mfe, Federated Farmers, Forest and Bird, and others have kept my calendar full.
Much of this work has revolved around advocating for forestry’s role in shaping New Zealand’s future. Additionally, efforts have been made to address and correct inaccurate statements made by our Prime Minister, as outlined in a recent letter we issued (accessible via the link provided). Alongside this, I have been providing background information to RNZ and other media outlets to ensure balanced and informed reporting on forestry issues.
This week, the Pan Sector Group also convened, with key developments including the decision to expand membership by three. Ongoing discussions covered critical topics such as our social licence to operate, tertiary education challenges, biosecurity, the development of a national forest policy, and implications of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). We also noted upcoming events such as the Usewoodfuel Showcase in May 2025 and the proposal for a Forestry National Development Conference in 2026.
The NZIF Council has been equally active, focusing on what our priorities should be not just for 2025 but for the years to come. Planning is well underway for the 2025 NZIF Conference (mark your calendars) and we are exploring ways to modernise our database and website to better serve our members.
We’ve also been diligently preparing submissions, with three more due before February. These submissions are vital in ensuring the voice of forestry professionals is heard in policy and regulatory discussions, particularly at a time when the industry faces increasing scrutiny and evolving challenges.
Looking ahead, we plan to trial a new approach to our newsletter in 2025. Starting on 19 February, we’ll move from fortnightly to monthly issues, allowing us to deliver more in-depth information on key items of importance to members.
As we close out 2024, I want to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of everyone within the Institute. Your contributions, whether through attending events, providing feedback, or engaging in our initiatives, ensure NZIF continues to thrive as the cornerstone of forestry professionalism in New Zealand.
Wishing you and your families a safe and enjoyable Christmas and holidays. I look forward to reconnecting with you all in 2025 as we continue our shared mission of advancing sustainable forestry.
Thanks
James
KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP
Schlich Memorial Prize for 2024
The University are happy to announce the winner of the NZ School of Forestry Schlick Memorial Award for the 2024 academic year is Blake Singleton.
Blake will receive a cash prize to be presented at the graduation function in April next year. Alongside the cash prize is one-year Graduate Membership of the NZIF which is funded by NZIF.
Blake is already a Student Member of NZIF and we would like to congratulate him on receiving this award.
IUFRO 1.01.04 Conference in Rotorua
A reminder to register for our upcoming IUFRO 1.01.04 Conference in Rotorua, 17-21 March 2025! We invite all those with an interest in establishing forests to join us, extending from practitioners to scientists.
The draft Programme will be published in December and we encourage you to share it with your networks.
Registrations for presenters closes on 30 November and registrations for all attendees will close on 31 January.
We look forward to welcoming you to Rotorua in March next year!
Kind regards,
1.01.04 Conference Organising Committee
Scion and Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research Survey
Scion and Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research are conducting a survey to understand how perceptions of wilding conifers differ across regions of Aotearoa New Zealand, and between professions and stakeholders. We are also interested in understanding how these perceptions compare to how other biosecurity threats are perceived. 'Wilding conifers' is a term used to describe exotic coniferous trees that self-establish beyond their initial plantings.
This survey is open to anyone although you will only be able to complete the survey once. Please complete this survey using this link!
Your participation is entirely voluntary and the survey will be anonymous.
This survey will take about 10 minutes to complete, and please forward the survey link to anyone who you think might be interested in completing it too. This survey will remain open until 20 December 2024. Please email Wilding Pine if you have any questions.
As an appreciation for your participation in the survey, you will have the option to enter a draw to win one of five $100 Prezzy vouchers.
2025 Forest Carbon Summit, to be held at Canberra's National Press Club in April next year.
Dates: Thursday 10 & Friday 11 April 2025
Location: National Press Club of Australia; 16 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600
Times: Day One - 8.30am to 5.00pm | Day Two - 9.00am to 5.00pm
Summit Dinner: Thursday 10 April, 6.30pm to 9.00pm
Some of the key themes that will be featured at the Summit include:
- Intersection of carbon and natural capital markets
- Complexities in existing and emerging forest carbon accounting methods
- Opportunities in off-market carbon accounting
- Forest carbon and investment
- Ethics & risk
- Agroforestry, agriculture and environmental plantings
- Local and international best practice
- Future legislation and reporting requirements
LOCAL SECTION UPDATE
Canterbury Local Section Event: Latest Fire Research
Last month, the Canterbury Section hosted Shana Gross, a fire ecologist from Scion, for a talk on the latest fire research.
Shana covered the context of rural fires in New Zealand and then elaborated on the different aspects of fire risk and behaviour at different stages and types of forests.
We also discussed how forest management can increase adaptive capacity and how focus should be on site-specific management as different management techniques are suited to different situations.
We were introduced to the NZ Fire Behaviour Toolkit on the Wildfire Research website, which includes a fire behaviour calculator, rules of thumb, and management documents.
The attendees were very engaged and it was a highly interactive session. Thank you to Campbell Harvey and Shana Gross for organising and presenting.
Acacia Farmery - Canterbury Local Section
CNI: Red Stage CLT Mill Visit
Red Stag kindly hosted the CNI sector for a presentation on mass timber, followed by a tour of their CLT mill. Jason Cordes gave a great overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with CLT which was very engaging. The tour of the CLT mill generated a lot of questions and discussion points and there was a lot of interest.
After the event we had a great networking session over some nibbles and a drink.
Gareth Bowen - CNI Local Section
FOUNDATION UPDATE
End of Year Thank You
The NZIF Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who has generously donated this year. Your contributions are vital in supporting the next generation of forestry professionals. Thanks to your generosity, we are able to fund the 2025 scholarships, empowering students to pursue their educational and professional goals. These scholarships not only provide financial assistance but also open doors to opportunities that will shape the future of our forestry industry. Your support truly makes a difference, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to fostering excellence and innovation in forestry. Thank you for being part of this important journey with us.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
The Foundation Chair and Foundation Trustees
