Latest news with #SouthernWoodCouncil
Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Planned exotic conversion limit supported
An Otago regional councillor has called carbon farming a giant "Ponzi scheme" amid government changes to the sector. Cr Kevin Malcolm's comments came after the government announced yesterday legislation to impose restrictions on large-scale farm-to-forestry conversions. The government is proposing a limit of 15,000 hectares per year for exotic conversions on medium-versatility farmland, while it will also restrict farm conversions to exotic Emissions Trading Scheme forests on high- to medium-versatility farmland. Cr Malcolm said the changes were timely given the market situation. "At the moment, the commodity prices have been down, and the carbon scheme has been set up in such a way that people are making a lot of money out of it without actually fixing the pollution problem, so somehow we need to stop. "Once that land goes into the marginal, the breeding properties go into forestry, they won't be going back into production again. "Look, to be honest, the carbon scheme, to me, is just a great big Ponzi scheme for polluters to try to avoid the responsibility of fixing up their pollution." Cr Malcolm said he understood the previous government's ideas behind the "one billion trees" initiative, but he felt it had not been rolled out satisfactorily. "We need to ensure that we get the right tree in the right place, and that we're not losing good, productive Otago farmland to a carbon scheme that clearly doesn't solve climate pollution issues." Cr Malcolm said when the Emissions Trading Scheme was first announced, and the billion trees initiative came into place, it was expected landowners would "go into their ugly blocks on their properties and over time plant them out into trees". "And it was a good intent, if you know what I mean, and that would have solved our genuine unfixable pollution issues. "But they never sat down and looked at the money-makers that would not reflect the intent of that billion trees." Cr Tim Mepham said the new legislation seemed to be reasonable at a glance. "It appears to be aimed at preventing high- to medium-versatility farmland being converted to carbon forestry. "It's important to understand the benefits between commercial forestry, which include pruning, processing and exporting logs, and the passive plant and leave carbon forestry that this legislation is targeting. "It also seems reasonable that farmers can still plant up to 25% of their property in exotics. It would be good to see the ETS amended to provide equivalent credits for native plantings as it does for radiata." Cr Elliot Weir sympathised with where the legislation was coming from, "as there are real concerns about farm-to-forest conversion, from food resilience to the spread of wilding pines to the overreliance on rather flammable exotic pines for carbon capture". "In isolation though, this lowers the credibility of this government's already sketchy emissions reduction plan." Southern Wood Council chairman Grant Dodson said there had been a consistent and strong resistance from the farming community about conversions of typically sheep and beef land into forest land. "That's been change that's happened. I think the sheep numbers in New Zealand have been in decline since the early 1980s. "So the government's obviously got some concerns around that. "It's probably a little bit unfortunate, I think, from a forestry perspective. It limits people's options."
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Forestry worker's ‘natural ability' a factor
Callum Maze, of Roxburgh Logging (right), with John Taal from the Milton Stihl Shop, receives the apprentice of the year award at the Southern Wood Council's forestry awards. Photo: supplied "Just be keen as beans." That's the advice of young South Otago forestry worker Callum Maze, 21, who received the apprentice of the year award at the Southern Wood Council's recent forestry awards, held in conjunction with Competenz. The acknowledgement recognised a commitment to self-development and skill achievement through the apprenticeship. Lawson Roxburgh, of Roxburgh Logging, said Mr Maze began work straight out of school as an enthusiastic young man who took in everything that was going on. "His natural ability and willingness to learn have seen him constantly involving himself with more experienced members of his team, who recognise the potential in him and enjoy passing on their knowledge," Mr Roxburgh said. It was while Mr Maze was a student at South Otago High School that he did work experience one day a week at Roxburgh Logging, giving him a taste of the industry. He started branding logs and much of his time was spent watching how it all worked and to decide if he was keen. Being put into a digger was a highlight. When he asked if there was any possibility of a permanent job, he was told that one was going to be offered to him. Now a machinery operator, Mr Maze said he liked all aspects of the industry; from the "good bunch of lads" involved to being out in the bush as he was a keen hunter and outdoorsman. There were lots of other qualifications he could achieve and he was always learning, he said. Both forestry trainee awards, celebrating harvesting and silviculture, attracted some fierce competition. Those awards recognised commitment to self-development and skill achievement. Josh Harrison, of Mike Hurring Logging, won the forestry trainee title. Phil Williams, who submitted the nomination, said Mr Harrison had taken to forestry training like a "duck to water", and had obtained a significant number of training qualifications during his short time in the industry. Jamie Sycamore, of Southland Forest Services, won the silviculture trainee award. He has spent almost his entire working life in the forestry industry, starting in silviculture after leaving school, where his employer at the time soon saw his potential and quickly promoted him to team leader. He has since progressed to general manager and bought into the business. Xshikarna Harvey, of Mike Hurring Logging, won the women in forestry title this year, against some stiff competition from other operators from across the industry. She played a key role in the commissioning of the Port Blakely distillery in Shag River Forest, for extracting essential oils out of Douglas Fir foliage. "There was no manual for how this task should be done. It required innovation and on-the-spot decision-making to achieve the necessary outcomes. Xshikarna took to this quickly," Barry Wells, of Port Blakely, said. The Southern Wood Council comprises forestry and wood processing companies throughout Otago and Southland that has been running for almost 20 years. Council chairman Grant Dodson, who is chief executive of City Forests, said there were record numbers of nominations for the industry awards and some people of "exceptional" quality put forward for recognition. Award winners were.— Apprentice of the year: Callum Maze (Roxburgh Logging). Forestry trainee of the year (harvesting): Josh Harrison (Mike Hurring Logging)Forestry Trainee of the year (silviculture): Jamie Sycamore (Southland Forest Services). Forestry excellence award: Lyle Swain (Swain Logging). Wood processing excellence award: Bryson Baratcart (Niagara Sawmilling Company). Women in forestry excellence award: Xshikarna Harvey (Mike Hurring Logging). Training contractor/company of the year: Lyle Swain (Swain Logging). Forestry/wood products health and safety excellence award: Matt Stewart (Stewart Logging). Forestry environmental management excellence award: Matt Winmill (Gillion Logging Ltd). Outstanding forest industry contribution award: Alec Cassie (Wenita Forest Products).
