31st July 2023 Newsletter
PRESIDENTS COLUMN
Dear Members
Over the past few months, the forestry sector has been facing unprecedented challenges, and I wanted to share some insights and updates with you all.
During the last fortnight, I've been actively engaged in various activities, including attending a crisis Pan-Sector group, meeting with different sector organisations, discussing matters with the Minister, and addressing concerns from members and the media. It's evident the pressure is mounting, and many in the forest sector are struggling to survive.
The Government's actions, unfortunately, have not been supportive. Their poor decision-making, made without consulting those affected, has even been deemed illegal. However, I must express my gratitude to Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand for their valuable contributions in this domain. The situation has been made worse by some forest owners experiencing substantial losses due to selling NZUs at low prices, and uncertainty remains, with the MfE consultation suggesting Forest NZUs could only be sold to the Government.
To combat these challenges, NZIF, along with FICA, Nga Poua Tane, FFA, and FOA, united to express our concern. The MfE consultation process lacked proper due diligence and, given the court's ruling that Cabinet's actions ignoring CCC advice were illegal, we believe the Government must withdraw the consultation document immediately. We've already raised our concerns with the Minister, who has promised to discuss them with the Cabinet.
Despite the circumstances, we are pressing ahead with our submission, due in August. We recognise submissions carry more weight in numbers, so we urge all members to support the NZIF submission by signing and sending in a one-pager, which we will provide. Removing forest NZUs from the ETS could have dire consequences, jeopardising our efforts to tackle emissions and leaving future generations with an inhospitable world.
Additionally, we have reservations about the data and modelling used by the CCC to suggest overplanting in the sector. Beef and Lamb's own report, in contrast, seems to align more closely with CCC's requirements, showing an average of 35,000 hectares planted over the last 3 years, challenging the exaggerated claims of 85,000 hectares coming from MfE and CCC. If the Government separates forestry from the ETS, investment in new planting is likely to decline significantly, hindering progress towards the CCC's target of 32,000 hectares annually until 2030.
At the recent pan-sector crisis meeting, we generally agreed that collective action is essential for advocating on behalf of forests and forestry. The meeting brought together representatives from processors, corporate forest owners, farm foresters, professional foresters, contractors, financiers, and government bodies. Each association has its own specific areas of focus, but together, we must strive to combat poor decision-making, foster sector growth, and strengthen our lobbying efforts.
As we approach August 6th, I want to extend my gratitude to the Registration Board and the co-opted senior members for their tireless work in evaluating applications and registering qualified members as NZIF Registered Forest Professionals and adding them to the RFA register. Although many have submitted their applications at the last minute, the Board and their co-ops have been working diligently to process them. If you have any queries regarding your application or registration, please feel free to contact Raewyn (admin@nzif.org.nz) or the Register (register@nzif.org.nz).
I understand these are challenging times for many of you. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can better serve you and the sector, please don't hesitate to reach out. We remain committed to advocating for the forestry sector and setting the record straight in the media.
Together, we can pave the way for a sustainable and thriving future for our forests and the communities they support.
Thanks
James
INSTITUTE UPDATES
- "The Trees Come Back" - Mangatu Video
- Media Releases
- NZIF Foundation Awards 2023
- The New Zealand Institute of Forestry urges action over impending summer fire risks - NZIF AGM Draft Minutes and Video Recording
"The Trees Come Back" - Mangatu Video
Some of the worst eroded pasture land in New Zealand can be seen in the East Cape region of the North Island. This film explains in detail how the problem arose, starting with the European settlement in the late 1890s when the natural forests were destroyed to make way for farmland. This destruction, coupled with high rainfall and land that was naturally unstable, led to spectacular erosion. The film describes how the then New Zealand Forest Service established the East Cape forests of Mangatu and Ruatoria. The large plantation forests of radiata pine have helped to stabilise the land and provided employment for the inhabitants of the East Cape region. The film also shows that, by measuring land movement on planted and unplanted slopes, Forest Research Institute scientists have been able to produce geological maps and a system of land classification based on slope stability. 1981, 25 minutes (video starts after 20 seconds).
THE TREES COME BACK
Media Releases
The following media releases were emailed out recently and can be found on the NZIF Media page:
- NZIF Foundation Awards 2023
- The New Zealand Institute of Forestry urges action over impending summer fire risks
NZIF AGM Draft Minutes and Video Recording
As you are aware NZIF recently held its 75th Annual General Meeting on the 8th July 2023
