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Newsletter 55, September 2010

Newsletter 55, September 2010

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New Zealand Farm Forestry Association
NZFFA
P.O. Box 1122

Wellington
www.nzffa.org.nz

Farm Forestry Newsletter
September 2010 No. 55

In this issue

Proposed National Environmental Standard (NES) for plantation forestry

Public consultation workshops on the proposed National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry

Pilot study: online discussion forum on NES

Time to shut the door on illegal wood imports

Surging lumber imports a requirement for China

100% increase in NZ log exports to India

NZ Bioenergy Strategy



Contacts


President

John Dermer dermer@farmside.co.nz

Vice President
Ian Jackson ijacko@xtra.co.nz
-Ashburton
-South Canterbury
-North Otago
-Sthn High Country (north)

Newsletter editor
Dean Satchell
dsatch@gmail.com

National Executive


Angus Gordon angusg@xtra.co.nz
-Waitomo
-Waikato
-Taupo & Districts
-Middle Districts
-Taranaki
-Hawkes Bay

Neil Cullen cullen@farmside.co.nz
-Mid Otago
-South Otago
-Southland
-Men of Trees
-Sthn High Country (south)

Hamish Levack hlevack@xtra.co.nz
-Bay of Plenty
-Gisborne East Coast
-Wairarapa
-Wellington

Dean Satchell dsatch@gmail.com
-Far North
-Mid North
-Lower North
-South Auckland
Earthquake
I hope Canterbury members have not been too badly knocked around by last Saturdays earthquake.  Some of the pictures I am seeing are amazing.

Federated Farmers have an emergency number: 0800 327 646 so call that if you need to.
 
I well remember the help I received cleaning up after the 2004 flood so hope you will all help each other with the clean up.
 
John Dermer

Notices
Branch officers:
  • November 1 is the deadline for nominations for Farm Forestry Awards to be presented at the 2011 Conference (see last newsletter).
  • November 1 is also deadline for branches changing their branch levies for next year, and also for remits for the 2011 AGM.
Proposed National Environmental Standard (NES) for plantation forestry

The Minister for the Environment, the Hon Nick Smith recently gave notice of the Government’s intention to develop national plantation standards (regulations) for plantation forestry.  The intent of the proposed standard is to improve national consistency in local authority plan rules relating to plantation forestry and certainty for those involved in the management of forests.

Overview of the proposed NES framework

The proposed NES achieves the policy objective through a national set of rules that allow (permit), control and restrict certain activities. The proposed NES for plantation forestry includes:
  1. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for afforestation in a rural zone (subject to conditions) on terrain with low or moderate susceptibility to erosion
  2. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for replanting in a rural zone (subject to conditions)
  3. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for mechanical land preparation in a rural zone (subject to conditions)
  4. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for harvesting in a rural zone (subject to conditions) on terrain with low or moderate susceptibility to erosion
  5. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for pruning and thinning to waste operations in a rural zone (subject to conditions)
  6. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for earthworks in a rural zone on terrain with low susceptibility to erosion
  7. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for forestry?related quarrying in a rural zone (subject to conditions)
  8. permitted activity status (no resource consent required) for river crossings in a rural zone (subject to conditions)
  9. controlled activity status (resource consent required) for harvesting in a rural zone on terrain with high susceptibility to erosion
  10. controlled activity status (resource consent required) for earthworks in a rural zone on terrain with moderate susceptibility to erosion
  11. restricted discretionary activity status (resource consent required) for afforestation in a rural zone on terrain with high susceptibility to erosion
  12. restricted discretionary activity status (resource consent required) for earthworks in a rural zone on terrain with high susceptibility to erosion.
Scope of the proposed NES
The proposed NES does apply to the following activities:
  • afforestation
  • replanting
  • mechanical land preparation
  • harvesting
  • pruning and thinning to waste
  • earthworks
  • quarrying
  • river crossings.

Note:
for some of these activities a local authority can have more stringent rules.

The proposed NES does not apply to the following activities:
  • agrichemical use
  • burning
  • gravel extraction from beds of rivers
  • milling activities and processing of timber
  • use and development of land that has the potential to be affected by contaminants in soil.
Local authorities would be able to impose additional controls to address any potential or actual effects on issues that are outside the scope of the proposed NES, or where there is an ability to be more stringent.

For more information about the proposed standard please visit http://www.mfe.govt.nz/laws/standards/forestry/index.html

Discussion document on the proposed NES.

Preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis: Proposed NES for Plantation Forestry.

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Public consultation workshops on the proposed National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry
The Ministry for the Environment has scheduled workshops on the proposed standard starting on the 13 September 2010 in six locations around New Zealand.  Please see the table below for the times, dates, and locations.
These workshops will provide an overview and address questions about the proposed standard. The final date for submissions on the discussion document will be 5.00pm on the 18 October 2010.
Please RSVP with your intentions to attend a workshop. Alternatively you can email
standards@mfe.govt.nz.

Public consultation workshops

Location
Date/Time
Venue
Palmerston North
Monday 13 September 2010
10:00am - 12:00pm
Palmerston North Convention Centre
354 Main Street
Gisborne
Wednesday 15 September 2010
10:30am - 12:30pm 
Emerald Hotel
13 Gladstone Road
Balclutha
Friday 17 September 2010
10:00am - 12:00pm
Balclutha War Memorial Hall
4 Clyde Street
Nelson
Monday 20 September 2010
10:00am - 12:00pm
Rutherford Hotel
Trafalgar Square
Whangarei
Wednesday 22 September 2010
10:00am - 12:00pm
Forum North
Rust Avenue
Rotorua
Friday 24 September 2010
10:30am - 12:30pm
Rotorua Convention Centre
1170 Fenton Street

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Pilot study: online discussion forum on NES

The Department of Internal Affairs, with the support of the Ministry for the Environment, will run an engagement pilot study in parallel with the formal consultation on the NES.  The pilot study will run as an online discussion forum, subject to the terms and conditions on the relevant web page.  Data and images that are relevant to the question will be provided to supplement the discussion.
The pilot is designed to supplement opinion-making in one area only: how erosion susceptibility classification could be used in forestry planning processes. Information derived from this study will be used in a thematic way to support the development of the NES:  it will not be analysed and systematically taken into account in the development of the NES. You are encouraged to take part in this online discussion and as well as making a submission on the proposed NES.

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Time to shut the door on illegal wood imports

The government needs to urgently adopt measures to prevent products from illegally logged foressts being sold in New Zealand, says the Forest Owners Association.
 
In Australia the Labor Party has today promised if re-elected to impose such a ban. That would put Australia in line with the United States, the European Union and a growing number of other countries.
 
“It is disappointing that New Zealand, which has such a good story to tell about sustainable forestry at home, has been so nervous about doing anything meaningful about this damaging trade,” says president Peter Berg.
 
“Illegal logging and deforestation are among the biggest contributors to climate change and the loss of biodiversity world-wide. It is also associated with violence against indigenous people living in tropical forests.
 
“Closing off the markets for illegally logged products is the only tool that has been shown to have an effect on this trade.”
 
The last New Zealand Labour Government adopted a policy of requiring kwila lumber imports to carry a certificate verifying that they came from legal sources. However when National came to office in 2008, this policy was abandoned in favour of continuing talks with affected countries.
 
Mr Berg says this was a disappointing backward step.
 
“Last year, we joined with other groups in our sector in supporting a private member’s Bill sponsored by Green MP Catherine Delahunty.  That would have required all imports of timber and wood products to be legal, sustainable and certified by reputable certification processes.
 
“Unfortunately, the government chose to vote against Ms Delahunty’s Bill at the first reading, which meant it could not be considered by a select committee.”
 
Mr Berg says it appears that the government fears a mandatory labelling policy will cause offence to other countries.
 
“But it has other options. Recent legislation in the United States makes it illegal to import forest products that do not meet the legal requirements of the country of origin,” he says.
 
“Indonesia could hardly object if we did the same – we would simply be requiring New Zealand importers to demonstrate they were complying with Indonesian law.”
 
Mr Berg says the New Zealand forest industry is committed to sustainable forestry and “illegal logging is not sustainable”. It also unfairly sullies the reputation of wood and forest products from sustainably managed plantation forests.
 
“It is hard to find a land use which is more environmentally friendly than plantation forestry as practised in New Zealand. Also, our government strictly enforces laws relating to the sustainable harvest of logs from native forests.
 
“The ethics and the economics of illegal logging directly affect New Zealand and our neighbours in the Pacific. Opposing the trade in products from this unsavoury business is a cause where New Zealand should stand up and be counted.
 
“In the meantime, consumers should ask retailers to provide evidence that decking timber, outdoor furniture and other forest products, like fire logs, come from legal sources before they buy.”

Peter Berg

President, NZFOA
(FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION MEDIA RELEASE 10 August 2010)
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Surging lumber imports a requirement for China

Chinese lumber consumption is forecast to rise from 41.6 million m3 in 2009 to more than 70 million m3 by 2015 (70+%, or a 12+% annual growth rate from 2009). The rapid expansion in lumber demand and consumption over this period is based on steadily growing demand for concrete forming lumber for new housing and general construction, in combination with improving export markets for finished solid wood products (e.g., furniture, flooring, doors, etc.) that require feed stock.

China is expected to be the fastest-growing lumber producer, importer and consumer nation in the world over the next half-decade, with an average annual increase in lumber consumption of 5.1 million m3. This fast-paced consumption growth should have a strong impact on global wood demand, particularly as the major global economies begin to emerge from the current economic recession.
(Source: Friday Offcuts - International Wood Markets Group, www.woodmarkets.com)

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100% increase in NZ log exports to India

Total merchandise exports from India surged 34% in May 2010 compared to May 2009. It has become increasingly clear that the Indian economy has been relatively unaffected by the economic situation globally. New Zealand log exports to India are continuing to increase in volume as demand for lower grade logs from this region remains strong. New Zealand log exports to India for the 12 months to June 2010 were over 1 million m3, which is over 100% more than the previous 12 months and the five year average. Over 400 000m3 were exported to India in the period April 2010 to June 2010 alone.
(Source: Friday Offcuts - Agri-fax)

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NZ Bioenergy Strategy

In partnership with the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, BANZ has developed the New Zealand Bioenergy Strategy. This sets a vision of “25% of energy in New Zealand coming from bioenergy by 2040”. Check out the strategy for more details. A supporting paper, "A Picture of Bioenergy Opportunities in New Zealand” is also available on the BANZ website. Proposed next steps to ensure positive adoption are as follows:
  • Engaging other parties.
  • Developing Implementation Action Plans.
  • Rolling the strategy out to all aspects of the industry and associated value chain.
  • Preparing to extend discussions with Ministers to get the strategy included in their Economic Framework for Growth.

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