HB Today - Forestry and Land Use 2023

ForestrycontractorssteppingintohelpwithCycloneclean-up

NewZealand’sforestrycontractors muckedintohelpcleanuppost CycloneGabriellewhileunabletoget backtoworkasnormal.

Likeotherpartsofthefoodandfibresectors,inthe affectedareasofHawke’sBayandTairawhitihitby CycloneGabrielle,theforestindustrywaschallenged anddebatedtheirfutures,ourcontractorsasservice providerstolandownerswereinthesameboat. Theysoughtclarityaroundsupportandaroundtheir livelihoodssotheycouldkeeptheirstaffandtheir businesses.”

Manyforestrycontractorsremainedunabletogetback towork,reliantonlandownerstograntre-entrytothe forests.Whileroadingaccessibilityandsafetyremained keyconcerns,forestrycontractorsstillhadbillstopay andstafftoretainuntiltheyknewwhentheycouldgo backtoworkornot.

ForestIndustryContractorsAssociationCEOPrue Youngersayscontractorsadaptedasbesttheycould, redeployingmachineryandmanpowerwhilethey triedtokeepstaffbusyandincomecomingin.Itwas importanttounderstandiftheyweregoingtobe supportedbygovernment,likeothersectorssoreliant onthelandforemploymentare.

ChrystalandGavinEdmondsrunStirlingLoggingbased inWairoaandGisborne.Theyemployabout20staffand hadmorethanhalftheirteamoutandabouthelpingto cleanup.

“We’vehadabout11ofourguysoutclearingsiltin Gisbornewith4diggerswe’vehired.Wejustwent housetohouse,tryingtogiveahandandhelpout whereverwecould.”

Althoughatthetimethecosttohelpwasmostly

comingoutoftheirownpocket,Gavinsayseitherwayit hadtobedone,especiallywiththeincreasinghygiene healthrisks.Buthesaysit’salsogoodtobebusy.

“Weknowwe’restrongertogether.Wekeptourguys employedandbusyandkeepinggoodmoralegoingtill wecouldgetbacktowork.”

HawkesBay’sAmyandTobySatherleyfromATS Loggingemploy23staffandwereredeploying machineryandstafftohelpwithcleanupjobs.

“We’vehadourbucketdiggersandgrapplediggers helpingwithrecoveryandcleanup.We’vebeendoing everythingfromplacingrocksoutatAwatotoBeachto clearingunderbridges,clearingtreesandopeningup roadstohelpgetpeopleoutofinaccessibleandremote areaswheretheywerestillcutoff,”shesays.

“Ourmachineoperatorsweredoingtheirbest,even thoughit’sworktheyprobablyneverexpectedtobe doing.”

“Alotofthefarmingcommunitythatwerecutoff,were allreallystokedtoseeusouttheregettingtheirroads openandhousescleared.Therearesomanypeople outtheregratefulforthehelpofcontractors.”

RobScurrfromDGGlennwasalsoonthegroundin HawkesBay.DGGlennisoneofthelargestcontractors intheregionemploying150plusstaff.

“We’vebeenusingourmachinestodistributesupplies andgainaccessondifferentroadsandnetworksto reachisolatedpeople.CompanieslikeMainfreightand Shawshadbeeninthebackgroundsupplyingstuffand we’vebeenabletodistributeit,”hesays.

“Wewereabletogeta20-tonnegeneratorintoPatoka theotherweek–fromourworkinthebushweknewa differentwaytogetinthereusingourmachine,sowe justgotinthereandgotitdone.”

MsYoungersaysallcontractorsarefocusedonkeeping theirstaffandtheirlivelihoods,whiletryingtokeep someincomecomingintostayafloatwhiledoingtheir bittohelpwithclean-upefforts.

“FICAhadaninitiativeinplace–“MovingourPeople”–coordinatingtheredeploymentofcontractorstoclean upjobsandforestryworksuchaswindthrowtree fallingthatwasavailableinotherregions,”shesays.

“We’vecontinuedtohearstoriesofcontractorsgetting stuckinandhelpingoutintheircommunities,whether that’svolunteeringorseekingalternativerevenue throughshort-termcleanupjobs,”shesays.

“Astheworkforceonthegroundwithinthewider forestryindustry,they’redidusproud,lookingfor opportunitiestopitchinandhelp,whilealsokeeping theirstaffbusy.”

FICAwasinterviewedonRNZlastmonthalongwith BridgetParker,whosepropertyisnearTolagaBay.She describedtheextensivedamagecausedtoherhome, farmandorchardbyforestryslashthathadwashed ontoherproperty.Followingthestorm,thegovernment announcedalong-awaitedinquiryintowoodydebris ,whichincludesforestryslashandsediment-related damageinTairāwhitiandWairoa.

Itwasgreatandtosharetheimprovementsmadeby forestownersandprincipalsaroundenvironmental practisesinthelast5-6yearsbutexceptionalthat BridgetteParkeracknowledgedthecontractorsfor theirsupporttoclearlandandfarmsofwoodydebris. Shefullyunderstoodthattheywerepartofthesupply chainthatwassobadlyaffectedwithlossoftheirjobs throughthecyclonesandhavingtopayoutoftheir backpockettosupporttheirworkersthroughallthis.

YOUR VOICE.

Thevoiceofforestry contractors inNewZealandsince2002.

JOINFICATODAY.

FICAisdoing afabulousjob…theyknow issuesthatwehaveandensure they are shared. Thereisstrengthinnumbers,so collaborationiscritical.”

–FICAMember

•Berepresented ‘atthetable’with key industrygroupsandgovernmentagencies

•Beaffiliatedwithanorganisationknown forprofessionalismas aleaderin forestry

•Access networking,learningand developmentopportunitiesandmember benefits

Gizzielifestyleonofferfortruckies

PacificHaulageLtdisawell-knownandrespectedcompanythat’sbeenoperating inGisbornesince1985.Thisishometojustover100staff-90aretruckdrivers transportinglogsfromallovertheeastcoasttoGisborneandNapier.

It’saverymodernfacilitywithanin-housemaintenanceworkshop,atyreworkshop plusadrivethroughtruckwash.OperationsManagerofPacificHaulageLtdMitchell Jamessaysit’sagoodsetupandthemodernfleetconsistsofpredominantly KenworthvehiclesandalsoScaniatrucks.

CurrentlythereareopeningsforthoseseekingtruckdrivingjobsinGisbornewhich

offersagreatclimateanddrivingrolestosuitavarietyoflifestyles.Optionsarevery flexibleanddriversaresoughtforeitherfulltimeorcasualpart-timework.Openings arealsoavailableinNapier.

Hourscanbeadjustedtosuitapplicantsandaclass5licenceispreferred.Mitchell isalsokeentoencouragewomendriverstoapplyandsaystheworkisn’tthatoverly physicalanymore.Theydohaveanumberoffemaledriversonthepayrollatthe moment.

In2021theprivatelyownedPacificHaulageLtdwaspurchasedbyISOLtd,an

ThefleetconsistsmainlyofKenworthtrucks.

FORESTYANDLANDUSE 2023

internationalportlogisticscompany.BeingpartofISO Ltdhasopenedupmorecareeranddrivingopportunities andopportunitiestotransferwithinthecompany,both withinNewZealandandinAustraliaMitchellsays.In additionthereiswellestablishedtrainingforthose lookingtoaddtotheirdrivingorforestryqualifications.

Gisborneoffersagreatclimate,wonderfulbeacheswith surfing,hunting,fishingandwineriestoexplore.There areplentyofactivitiestogetthefamilyoutofthehouse, includingthelocalSpeedwaywhichprovespopularwith thelocalsandthesoontobeopenedKiwaPoolcomplex withhydroslideandleisurepoolforthekids.

“There’salotofworkoutthere.It’sagood,securejob withastrongfuture,”saysMitchell.

Thelarge,modernfacilityinGisborneiswellsetup.

TinaAdamsisoneofthefemaledriverscurrentlyonthepayroll.

PacificHaulagefleetinaction.

FORESTYANDLANDUSE 2023

Goodbiosecurityisgoodforbusiness

Hundredsofcompanieshavepledgedtosupport betterbiosecurityoutcomesforNewZealand, becausegoodbiosecurityisgoodforbusiness.

Biosecurityisthepreventionofdisease-causingagents enteringorleavingNewZealandwheretheycanpose arisktoournaturalenvironments-likenativeand productionforests,farms,orchards,andgardens-and tocontrolthespreadoftheinfection.

Biosecurityisaboutpreservingournaturaladvantages. NewZealand’seconomyandlifestyleisintegraltothe healthofouruniquenaturalenvironment.

TheBiosecurityBusinessPledgeisapartnership withMinistryofPrimaryIndustriesthataimstohelp businessesbeproactiveaboutbiosecurity.

MembersincludeMasterton-basedforestryinvestment managerForestEnterprises,aswellasthelikesof NapierPort,VetServices,Kiwirail,AirNewZealand andFonterra.ThePledgeisalsosupportedbyindustry organisationslikeNewZealandForestOwners Association(FOA)andFederatedFarmers.

Forestrysectorpriorities

Forestproductexportsarethethirdhighestexport earnerinNewZealand,valuedaround$6billionper year.

Theforestindustryhastwomainsectors-growingtrees andprocessingtheharvestedproduct.Thesector’s

ForestBiosecurityResearchStrategythereforefocuses onhealthyforestsandsafewoodproductstrade.

Thesectorfundsprojectsthatcontributetoimproved forestbiosecurityoutcomes.Theseincludeincreasing thesector’sknowledgebaseanddevelopingtraining modules,guidelinesandtoolsthathelpforestry companiesimproveoperationalbiosecurity.

Biosecurityriskstoforestry

ImportsTheprimaryrisktotheforestryindustryis theimportofplants,seedsandplantcuttingsusedin floristry.Also,hitchhikersincargo,luggageorimported woodproducts,usedvehiclesandcontainersonships orplanes.

EnvironmentalWhileuncommon,pestsandpathogens canspreadonthewind,suchasfromAustralia.

DomesticPestsandpathogensmayspreadviainfected nurseryplantsoronvehiclesusedininfectedforests.

Pestsincludebeetleslike Dendroctonusponderosae (mountainpinebarkbeetle)and Arhopalustristis (burnt pinelonghornbeetle),mothslike Lepidoptera,and fungaldiseaseslike Fusariumcircinatum (pitchcanker) and Dothistromapini (needleblight).

Surveillanceinaction

Biosecuritysurveillancewithintheforesthelpsdetect newpests.It’sasharedresponsibilityofgovernment

andindustry.

TeUruRakau-NewZealandForestServiceoperates surveillanceofhigh-risksites,specificpest-surveillance programmes,andpromotessurveillancebythegeneral public.TheFOAadministerssurveysinthelarge plantationforests.Bothprogrammesarebackedupby diagnosticexpertiseatScion.

ForestEnterprisesconductsannualForestHealth SurveysinconjunctionwithTeUruRakau,and operationalforestrystaffuseidentificationand reportingtoolsforday-to-daysurveillance.

Beabiosecuritychamp

ThefreeFind-A-Pestappmakesiteasytoreportand identifyanypossiblepestspeciesyoufind.

Whereveryouare-youcanhelpprotectNewZealand’s primaryindustriesandnativespeciesintwoeasysteps -SNAPIT-SENDIT.

Forestry’scyclonicresponse

ByKeithDolman CEOHawke’sBayForestryGroup

Hawke’sBayforestryisatypicalpastoralsector,run byresilientoptimists.

Butourmostrecentbattleisnotjustagainstthe elements.Wearestrugglingagainstanunfaircampaign toscapegoatforestryforthemountainsofsiltand wooddebristhathaveflowedfromclimatechangethat hascreatedstormsofanunprecedentedintensityand frequency.

Theconclusions,inanassessmentbyEcoLogical SolutionsfortheHawke’sBayRegionalCouncil releasedinMid-April,areoverwhelminglyclear“Atall butoneofthesurveyedsites,therewaslittleevidence ofslash,indicatingthatthemajorityofpinecamefrom erosionofhillsidesandstreambanks.”

Thisispositivenewsfollowingthenegativity,although weadmitforestrycandobetterandhavenoproblem withaministerialinquirytohelpsteerenvironmental managementandlanduse.Wearecryingoutthough forbalanceinthepoliticalandpublicdebate.

Andwethinkthatthisshouldbeeveryone’sbusiness, asallloseifforestrycontinuestobearthewrathofall.

OurresponsetoGabriellemakesthepoint Contractorsarereturningslowlyasinfrastructure

isrepaired.However,thebusinesscostandmental wellbeingofanot-workingworkforceandheavy machineryisdevastating.

Itisthereforeevenmorecreditablethatmany contractorsnotjustlookedoverthefenceatthe aftermathofGabrielle.Theyputtheirbootson,climbed over,andgotstuckin.

Theyusedauniqueskillset,ruraldisposition,work ethicandheavyequipmenttohelpreinstateroading networks,powerinfrastructureandremovesilt,and woodydebrisofallkinds-alifelinetoothersinthe community.

Hugeeffortshavebeenmadeandthelistof contributorsislongandwide.Thefollowingexamples makethepoint:

Loggingwereheavilyinvolvedintheclean-upin providedequipmentforoperationsinTutira,Te residence.

WaikareBridgewashedawayand,withWhitehead Elbow.

Tangoiomaraeby delivering120m3of lime.

Inallcases,andthere

aremanymore,forestryworkedwithcivilagencies. For example,assistingthearmyobtainphotostoassess ofConservationtotacklewooddebrisaroundtheir machinesonsite.

Contractorstaffwereabletoclimbontoothers’ machineswhentheycouldn’tgettotheirown.They operatedacrossaverybroadfront,didwhatwas neededandworkedbighoursforthecommunity Manypeoplewhomwewillneverknow,rolleduptheir sleevesanddidsomuchforothers.

AcrossHawke’sBaytheforestrycompaniesunderwrote Forestswillpayformuchitand,inthissense,have steppeduptotheroleof‘donor’.

contractorsdidnothesitatetostepforwardatatime ofgreatneed.This,wethink,isexactlywhatafully functionalcommunityshouldlooklike.

ompetitive,profitableaddinginvestmentchoice ommittedtoresponsibleenvironmentaloutcomes hirdlargestexportindustry

Hawke’sBayForestry

ariedandattractivejobopportunities asiestwaytoachievezerocarbongoalby2050

Versatilityiscrucialtoaddressarangeofchallenges

Theunprecedentedsummercycloneshavelefta trailofdevastationintheirwake.Aswelooktothe future,itisclearthatquicksolutionsareneededto shoreupunstableandslip-proneareas.Thispressure forurgentactioncomesatatimewhenfarmershave alreadybeencalledupontobeginmonitoringnetfarm emissions,andtopayheedtoerosionandnitrogen runoff

Theremaynotbeanysuchthingasa“onesizefits all”solution,butmanukaoffersanunmatched combinationofecologicalandeconomicattributes:

-Manukaistheleastexpensivenativespeciestobuy andestablish.Costsonaper-plantbasisarenot muchinexcessofpine.Thiscost-effectivenessis

criticalatatimewhencashflowsformanyfarmsare verytight.

-Manukaisruggedandadaptable.Commercial providerswillgenerallyofferarangeofcultivars whicharesuitedtospecificcombinationsofclimatic andgeologicalfeatures.Thiswillensurethatplants surviveandthriveinspecificlocations.

-Manukaisbothdeep-rootedandfast-growing.These characteristicsarevitallyimportant,giventhatmore frequent,damagingstormsmaybepartofthe“new normal”inyearstocome.Manukaisanexcellent choicetoholdtopsoilinplaceinhill-countryland.

-ManukaqualifiesasatreespeciesundertheEmissions TradingScheme.Thismeansthatitcanactasa sourceofpassiverevenueforlandowners.

-Manukaisanatural“nurserycrop”.Itsnatural functioninourecosystemsistoactasacolonising species(establishingitselfonbarelandafterslips,for example),andtoprovideaprotectedenvironmentfor other,largernativespeciessuchasrimuandtotarato develop.Thismeansthat,providedtherearesources ofseedfromsuchotherspeciesinthevicinity,in decadestocome,manukawillgraduallyrevertto mixednativebush. Aswithallnatives,manukaalso actsasanaturalhabitatforindigenousbirdsand otherspecies.

-Manukahasthecapabilitytoreducenutrients andsedimentflowingintowaterways,making

itextremelyusefulforriparianmarginplanting, particularlyonfarms.

-Manuka’suniquehoneycanbevaluableinitsown right,addingvalueevenaspartofa“multifloral” blend.

Thedecisionsthatlandownersmaketodaywillhave long-lastingimpactontheirproperties’ecologyand economics.Manuka’sversatility,cost-effectiveness androbustnessmaybeawisechoice.

TheteamatManukaFarmingNZ (www.manukafarming.co.nz)

EMISSIONSTRADINGSCHEME(ETS)

PROUDLYINDEPENDENTANDBACKEDBYOVER30YEARSOFEXPERIENCE INALLAREASOFFORESTADVISORYWORKANDMANAGEMENT

FORESTYANDLANDUSE

Seekingabalanceddiscussion

Whencitizensoffar-offlandsheartheexpression, “ruralNewZealand”Isuspectthatmanypicture aquaintpastoralscene,perhapsfeaturingapaddock fulloflambsandafarmerwavingfromatopatractor. ThoseofushereinAotearoamightbeforgivenfor associatingourfarmlandandbackcountrywithaless bucolicmoodthesedays,onefraughtwithfractious andangrydebate.

Thestereotypesarebothtiredandinsulting:greedy farmerswanttobeabletodespoilthelandscapeand waterwayswithimpunity,out-of-touchcityfolkand politicianswithmanicurednailswanttodestroythe agriculturalsector. It’sworthwhile,then,totakea

stepbackandconsiderthatmostKiwisactuallyhold thesamegoalsinmind.Wewanttoaddressclimate change,improvethestateofourriversandstreams, andenhancebiodiversity.Thatsaid,wealsowant toseearuralsectorthatiseconomicallysoundand sustainable,andabletosupportlifeinoursmalltowns. Inotherwords,theargumentsarenotaboutgoals,but abouthowweprioritisethem.ThedebateaboutHWEN hasbeenagoodillustration;mostwouldagreethat netgreenhousegasreductionisagoalworthpursuing, whilealsofeelingconcernaboutscheme’simpacton farmswhicharealreadyundereconomicstrain.Wellintentionedpeoplecan,anddo,holddifferentviews onhowfarandfastthechangestoaddressnetfarm emissionsshouldtakeplace.

Therealityisthatweareseekingtosimultaneously advancegoalsthatareantithetical. Forinstance, wecannotmaximisecarbonsequestrationfrom permanentforestrywithouttheuseofexotics,yet exoticmonocultureforestsareproblematicintermsof biodiversityandlandscapevalue.Likewise,underthe ETSaswritten,nativeplantinggenerateslessrevenue forlandowners.

Theconclusion,ofcourse,isthatthereisno“one sizefitsallsolution”whenitcomestorurallanduse. Solet’sactpragmatic,notdogmatic. Usenativesin riparianareasandonerosion-pronehillcountry,and exoticsinlesssensitiveareas,andthosewherewilding

canbeconstrained. Let’sstopvilifyingeachotherfor differencesinhowprioritiseourgoals,andfocuson incentivisingdecisionsthatstrikeabalancebetween carbonsequestration(andrevenuegeneration)and biodiversity.Throughpolicieswhichhonourthese objectivesinequalmeasure,wecandeliverablendof foresttypesthatdeliverbothreasonableeconomics andimprovedecologicaloutcomes.

TheteamatBalancedForestry (www.balancedforestry.com)

Seedlings available now forwinter planting

balanced forestry nz.