FOREST GROWERS RESEARCH CONFERENCE

The 2019 Forest Growers Research conference in Wellington marked the wrapping up of the ambitious Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future programme and highlighted ongoing research in a number of other areas that will benefit the industry.

THE WORK OF SCION SCIENTISTS INVOLVED IN THE MAMMOTH 6-year Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future research programme will continue, in spite of a major set-back after the government turned down new funding for the follow-up phase.

The Forest Growers Levy Trust has stepped in to provide interim funding for the next year and Scion has dipped into its reserves so that valuable research into helping the industry grow better and healthier trees, as well as boosting income from increased harvests, can continue.

Russell Dale, R & D Manager of the Forest Growers Research organisation, says the decision by the Ministry for Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE) not to fund new programmes proposed by his organisation and Scion in the current funding round was a surprise, given the success of the GCFF programme, which finished in September.

“The GCFF research has been immensely valuable, providing us with a great platform for ongoing research and we don’t want to lose that momentum,” says Mr Dale. “We’ll be supporting ongoing research for the next year while we work with Scion on alternative strategies.”

To fill the gap, Scion has proposed an interim Resilient Forests programme that has three research aims to address key questions raised in the Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future as well as the companion Healthy Trees, Healthy Forests projects. This interim plan proposes creating an economic, environmental and social portfolio to “de-risk” forest investment decisions in the face of mounting challenges.

Over the next year, the Resilient Forests programme will build on the investment made over the past six years and in March 2020, a new proposal will be submitted to MBIE’s Endeavour Fund called More Certain Forests.

The new More Certain Forests programme is aimed at helping transform the forest-growing sector beyond its current boundaries into a futurefocused, resilient, information-based business.

At the 2019 Forest Growers Research conference in Wellington last month, Scion researchers underlined the importance of their work by presenting the results of the ambitious GCFF programme, launched with the aim of doubling the productivity of New Zealand plantation forests by 2050 – ie just one rotation.

The programme differed from previous research because of the highly integrated approach, pooling research resources to maximise results.

A joint initiative between Scion, forest growers and MBIE, the programme was based on fostering and establishing new links between various researchers and interested parties to benefit forestry as a whole.

‘Innovation clusters’ were drawn from various groups with a goal of building more productive, resource-efficient forests that provide the raw material base for added-value processing to be achieved through shifting forest management to a ‘precision forestry’ basis, integrating latest advances in sensor technology, tree physiology, genetics, improved management etc.

Among the many advancements being seen are:

• Improved breeding programmes to deliver trees that match specific sites and climatic conditions around New Zealand

• Helping nurseries raise trees that require less fungicide, which may harm some beneficial bacteria as well as killing off harmful ones, plus reducing the amount of fertiliser, which will not only save costs but also benefit the environment. Research also shows fertiliser use can be reduced in existing forests without hitting tree growth and by planting ‘sacrificial’ companion trees (ie Willows) among Radiata Pines that are preferred by browsing pests, the amount of pesticides can be reduced, too

• A result of the above research was the discovery that a by-product of Urea manufacturing, called Biuret, makes a super food that boosts young tree growth. Scion researchers found that coating seeds with Biuret increased their uptake of nutrients in the soil, promoting significantly better growth. Scion is now actively working on commercialising Biuret in New Zealand

• Promising work in understanding how microbes benefit root systems is likely to result in ways to increase the effect they have on trees

• Work is progressing on developing trees that need less water, for growing in very dry areas affected by Climate Change

• Research showing that the optimum level of tree stocking per hectare is greater than previously thought – 676 stems per hectare for trees grown for structural timber, not the 500/ha figure currently used, thus enabling growers to boost final tree numbers by 35%

• Remote sensing advancements are helping foresters identify sites where wind damage is likely, identify where fertiliser should be applied to boost growth and how it can constantly monitor for diseases.

Mr Dale says New Zealand forestry must become more agile in the way it responds to increasing challenges on competitive, environmental and climatic fronts in future and research is vital to help win the battle.

NZL