This month's Wood Matters has a focus on safety. I thought I'd comment on a related matter that can help contribute not only to safety, but also to better commercial and environmental outcomes – the significance of clear work processes and procedures, and the importance of sticking to them.
READ MOREFFR has just completed a round of member meetings in Nelson where the outcomes of the research programmes across all four themes were presented to members.
READ MOREThe Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is now accepting applications for the pre-1990 forestry allocation and less than 50 hectare exemption. This is a one-off opportunity to claim the allocation and/or exemption.
READ MORELast month we reported that in mid August we were getting strong signals that CFR prices had stabilised in China at USD120/JAS m³. We are pleased to further report that August was in fact a trough from a decline in price that commenced in April of this year.
READ MOREAccidents and injury cause measurable loss to investors and business and immeasurable loss to individuals and their families. Regrettably the accident and injury rates in the forestry sector are relatively high.
READ MORESteve Williams, Health and Safety Inspector – Forestry, of the Department of Labour (Te Tari Mahi) recently visited Sabre Logging working for PF Olsen in the Southern North Island (SNI) region.
READ MORELast week I presented at the 6th Australia – New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference in Sydney. The take home message was despite residual opposition from the farming sector, we are fortunate in New Zealand to have a pragmatic ETS in place.
READ MOREForest Stewardship Council(FSC) is very important for forestry companies who are supplying logs to customers who require independent certification that their wood products are sourced from well-managed sustainable forests.
READ MORETrees growing on the edge of a stand can grow quite differently compared to trees within a stand. Obvious differences include branch size and height, however the differences extend to important wood qualities.
READ MOREAugust has seen continued reductions in wharf-gate prices around New Zealand. Export log prices fell some $2-6/JAS m³ as ocean freight costs rose and CFR prices continued to drop (CFR prices are the US$ denominated prices in destination ports).
READ MOREDomestic prices for NZUs has strengthened marginally since last month in line with slight firming of CERs. However the prospect of a big increase on the supply side from pre-1990 forest allocations, fisheries and trade-exposed industries is keeping price expectations down.
READ MOREI joined a senior business delegation to Seoul this month to assist the Prime Minister and MFAT breathe life into the Free Trade negotiations with Korea.
READ MOREOn the 1st of July 2010 the energy, transport and industrial process sectors joined the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
READ MOREThe pre-1990 Forestry Allocation Plan is expected to be released next week, along with the mapping standard. This will allow the processing of applications of the free allocation/partial compensation NZUs for pre-1990 forest owners from the 1st of August 2010.
READ MOREThe pre-1990 forest land mapping standard is expected to be released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry next week.
READ MORERadiata log inventories in China have remained steady at around 750,000 m³. With consumption estimated at around 500,000 m³, this makes stocks 1½ months of consumption.
READ MOREAfter getting feedback after a presentation to the annual conference of the Society of Chartered Accountants, PF Olsen has prepared a set of Guidelines aimed at helping smaller forest owners and their advisors make better decisions regarding the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
READ MOREWood Resources International LLC recently reported that biomass in Sweden now generates 32% of all energy.
READ MOREPF Olsen assisted the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Biosecurity and Scion host a delegation of Indian scientists and officials touring New Zealand as part of a review of India's phytosanitary standards for the importation of wood products from NZ.
READ MOREAs part of its harvest planning and engineering management, PF Olsen is now utilising a new on-line predictive tool supplied by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
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