A problem with equations: refections on the NZ Journal of Forestry

Authors: John Purey-Cust
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2008, Issue N.Z.J.For. 53(2) 2008, pp 43-46, Aug 2008
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: In the NZ Institute of Forestry (NZJF) weekly electronic newsletter of the 11th July ‘08 (the Newsletter) I accused the Editor of the NZ Journal of Forestry (the Journal) of filling it with too many equations. He has responded (as editors may) by giving me an imposition. It follows, with a southern emphasis. Summary The Journal of Forestry is important as one of only two publications - the other is the Tree Grower - to deal with New Zealand forestry in the round. As such it must not be clogged with the detail of science, but rather deal with the issues that face the profession of forestry in a primarily pastoral culture. Also an excess of technical detail deters readers, who may cease their membership of the Institute. The range of issues, many changing by the minute, requires closer coordination between the Journal of Forestry and the NZIF electronic newsletter. Forest management, the foundation interest of the profession, is generally ignored or treated as an undifferentiated corporate radiata monoculture. However even that has a greater range of variety than is acknowledged, and on a smaller scale much more is happening both with radiata and with other species. The full range of forest management practice in New Zealand must be covered in the Journal. There is a case to ask forestry companies to describe their management philosophy.

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