Many of our readers would have noticed a recent article in the New Zealand Herald newspaper titled "Scorched Earth" in which the author, Sam Judd, sought to attribute many of the problems of erosion and sedimentation of New Zealand waterways to the practices of the forest industry and particularly clear cutting of Radiata pine.
READ MOREWith the introduction of the new Forest Growing Levy on 1 January 2014 big changes are being made to the way forest growing is funded and organised in New Zealand. The aim is to bring forest growing research under a single management structure to ensure efficient organisation and delivery of research to industry end users.
READ MOREFor deforestation completed in the 2013 calendar year, the deforestation emissions return is due by the 31st March 2014, with surrender of units due by the 31st May 2014.
READ MOREAlthough we are now well into summer, it was only late October that we were shipping the last of our containerised tree stocks to a Dunedin client for the end of its last year's planting programme. This order was a repeat (and expanded order) from the prior year based on not only exceptional tree stock survival rates, but also exceptional early growth rates.
READ MOREThe three forestry fatalities in November and December add to seven previous fatalities classified as forestry sector earlier in the year. This is of course a terrible record and tragedy for the families involved.
READ MOREOne of the challenges being faced by PF Olsen Australia foresters at the moment is how to determine the adequacy of coppice restrike for second rotation blue gum plantations in order to decide whether or not to replant or manage for coppice.
READ MOREAs we approach the end of 2013 the improved trading conditions and prospects in many wood products markets provides a basis for optimism in 2014 for forest owners.
READ MOREOn Friday 6st December the government released its decision regarding when it will restrict the use of some types of emission units within New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme.
READ MOREGrapple processors are being used extensively in harvesting Radiata pine in NZ. In order to harvest the increasing volumes of trees, harvesting technology that offers higher efficiency and reduces the safety risks to forestry workers will become the norm – grapple processors are in this category.
READ MORERecently, the results of a survey on the New Zealand Public's perceptions of the Environment in NZ[1] were published. The survey is a continuation of a programme of surveys conducted by Lincoln University every two years since 2000 and provides some very useful benchmarks of public opinion.
READ MOREFrom the 1st January 2014, a compulsory Forest Owner Commodity Levy ("Levy") of 27 cents per tonne is being introduced on all products sourced from trees in plantation forests.
READ MORELarissa Anderson has recently been appointed H&S Coordinator and assistant to Nic Steens in Rotorua office.
READ MOREFrom the PF Olsen team we wish all Wood Matters readers a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
READ MOREWith the Ministry for the Environment release earlier this month of the Discussion Document on the Proposed amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2011 it is timely to reflect on what fresh water quality means to New Zealand's economic well-being and the role of commercial forests in that.
READ MOREWith many changes happening in the New Zealand forestry sector some people have been asking what's happening at PF Olsen. With so much happening, where do we start…? Here's a brief update on the key goings-on.
READ MOREImproving demand for Australasian construction materials is supporting demand for structural logs by domestic log processors. Tachikawa hit the headlines late last month (for the wrong reasons) as its business went into receivership leaving around 120 staff facing an uncertain future.
READ MOREThe Kaharoa Kokako Trust has been successfully working to save a population of kokako in 700 odd hectares of native forest since 1997. Pine plantations managed by PF Olsen are adjacent to the area so the Trust was delighted when contacted by Sally Haddon, Environmental forester at PF Olsen, with an offer of assistance.
READ MORENZUs have continued trending down this month, and currently trading is at around $3.15 -$3.30 per NZU.
READ MOREPF Olsen contributed to the process and cost of a recently published Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) of the forest industry in the Gisborne Tairawhiti Region.
READ MOREThe recent and early spate of fires in New South Wales, especially west of Sydney, have burnt over 100,000 hectares and destroyed many buildings and other infrastructure.
READ MORE