SPECIAL FEATURE: WORKER WELLNESS: STRESS
There is clear evidence that stress is having an impact on the health and wellbeing of forestry workers in NZ, particularly now with the extra pressures of COVID-19. What’s causing it and how do we address the problem?
REFORESTATION OF RED BEECH ON EASY CONTOUR Manu Whenua SOHO properties is expected to earn income from carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). But could it not be a source of income under a sustainably managed harvest scheme on maturity after 60 years?
Red Beech is a popular native hard wood, which can yield up to $60.00 per cubic meter in royalties for the grower. This was the accepted value paid to the Department of Conservation during recovery of wind-blown trees after Cyclone Eta under the temporary Act at the time.
However Red Beech is continuing to be harvested under the current Forestry Act for Sustainability. Research by Timberlands West Coast scientists prior to 1990 found that limited select-stem logging actually encouraged prolific regeneration of Red Beech.
Led by Kit Richards, researchers experimented with a private stand of Beech in the Buller region. What was attractive to conservationists was that this cut into exports of unsustainably logged forests from overseas. Timber was being exported from Indonesia, Malaysia and South America, including the Amazon.
Up in the Buller area today a privately run operation involving an ex-Timberlands forester extracts three to four stems (between 4-6 tonnes) per hectare on a 15-year rotation. Ages of trees vary from 60-80 years.
The logs are heli-lifted out, leaving no tracking. These logs are now processed in Christchurch by recently named Health Based Buildings. Wood is cut into various products including furniture, interior facings, exterior cladding, flooring, decking and various feature uses. It presents attractive striking red and mottled colouring, and can be laminated for building strength.
It has been recorded that with the forest canopy break, seedling growth races for the light at similar rates to fast growing Radiata Pine, reaching 20 metres within 25 years. Forest owners are committed to putting 20% of royalties back into management for pest control and conservation, usually about $20.00p/ha. This is many times greater than what DoC is allocated.
NZL