Group set up to solve silviculture issues

THE PROBLEM OF SUBSTANDARD WORK conditions and low pay in the silviculture sector is to be addressed by a pan-industry group representing contractors, forest owners and government agencies.

All sides have agreed to form a Silviculture Action Group that will look at how to improve the sustainability of silviculture businesses in New Zealand.

Silviculture has long been recognised as the ‘Cinderella’ group of the forestry industry, but little has been done to improve the situation until now.

The Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) says the depth of the problems experienced by some of its members has “escalated into a social issue concerning our industry’s image and ‘social’ license-to-operate” as the media has now become aware of the situation.

The issue came to a head at a forum organised by FICA in Rotorua in November and attended by key silviculture contractors, along with representatives of leading forest managements companies, Work & Income NZ and the Ministry of Social Development.

That meeting resulted in a formal approach being made to the Forest Owners Association and several government agencies to find a way to solve silvi’s problems. The FOA executive council met soon after and agreed to join the Silviculture Action Group.

While no timetable has been set for the Action group to find a resolution that will work for silviculture, there are expectations that it will need to be found soon. See the FICA column on page 47.

NZL