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Official journal of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association August 2016
Hokitika conference field days
Transferring your carbon credits
The importance of a forest inventory
Land transfers and the ETS
Breeding improved radiata pine
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Vol 37 No 3 August 2016
ISSN 0111-2694
Contents
Conference field days
The Hokitika conference...........................................................................3
Julian Bateson
Matching the trees to the site....................................................................5
Viaduct Creek..........................................................................................7
Arahura Valley where the soil may bring you to tears...................................9
Some impressions from an Australian delegate.........................................10
Carol Neal
General articles
Clean water and carbon credits
– How to get the most from fencing streams............................................12
Roger May
Conference field days 5 The science or art of forest inventory......................................................14
Alan Bell
Safety with the new health and safety laws...............................................18
Julian Bateson
The good wood......................................................................................20
John Moore and Michelle Harnett
Is your risk over once you have sold your logs..........................................24
Jo McIntosh
Neil Barr Foundation enters a new era......................................................26
Monocultures are natural.........................................................................28
Wink Sutton
Transferring and trading your carbon credits............................................29
Hamish Levack
Emissions Trading Scheme – A recovery for New Zealand Units.................31
Lizzie Chambers
Land transfers involving the Emissions Trading Scheme............................33
Breeding improved radiata 20 Stuart Orme
Forest biosecurity – What does GIA mean?...............................................35
Bill Dyck
Log supply demand bringing price variability............................................37
Allan Laurie
Nominate someone for an NZFFA award...................................................39
Julian Bateson
A new era for the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative..........................................40
Harriet Palmer and Paul Millen
Regulars
From the President...................................................................................2
From the Patron.....................................................................................28
Market report.........................................................................................37
Health and safety...................................................................................18
Neil Barr Foundation 26 Association contacts..............................................................................44
Membership...........................................................................................45
The opinions expressed in Tree Grower are not necessarily the opinion of, or endorsed by, NZFFA, editorial staff or the publisher.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, but neither NZFFA nor the editor accept liability for any consequences
arising from reliance on the information published. If readers have any doubts about acting on any articles they should seek confirming,
professional advice.
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 1
President’s comment
Official Journal of the New Zealand Farm
Developments in the levy space
Forestry Association
President
Dean Satchell Dean Satchell
Phone: 09 407 5525
Email: dsatch@xtra.co.nz
Developments continue in the levy space, with a significant level of new research being
proposed by the joint research committee, particularly genetics research. Consideration is
National Head Office
also being given to ownership of the Radiata Pine Breeding Company, which has looked
Glenn Tims
after the genetic improvement of our most important forestry species for some time. The
National Association Manager
Radiata Pine Breeding Company shareholders include major forest growing companies
Level 9 in New Zealand and Australia. However, the question is whether the company should
The ForestWood Centre be brought entirely into the levy space and nationalised for industry-good. Negotiations
93 The Terrace are currently taking place between Forest Owners Association and the Radiata Pine
Wellington 6011 Breeding Company, so watch this space.
Phone: 04 472 0432 The Forest Owners Association have agreed to NZFFA setting up a new joint
Mobile: 027 440 8472 levy committee which supports the interests of smaller forest growers. This Small and
Email: glenn.tims@nzffa.org.nz Medium Enterprises committee is to look at issues affecting owners of smaller forest
blocks and to assist in providing input to the deliberations of the current committees.
PO Box 10 349 This is a very positive development in the levy space and growers need to think about
The Terrace their needs and contact me with these as I will be chairing the committee as President of
Wellington 6143 NZFFA. We will also be guided by the results of a survey Graham West and I conducted
Email: admin@nzffa.org.nz six months ago of growers needs that each of you with an email address would have
Website: www.nzffa.org.nz received. Harvesting is the clear priority for our efforts and I have kicked things off
by contracting the University of Canterbury to produce an information resource on
harvesting plantation forests, with an emphasis on smaller growers.
Editor Fire and Emergency New Zealand is being set up to amalgamate the New Zealand Fire
Julian Bateson Service, the National Rural Fire Authority, 12 enlarged rural fire districts and 26 territorial
Bateson Publishing Limited authority rural fire authorities. Over the next four years Fire and Emergency New Zealand
PO Box 2002 will build a modern, nationwide service integrating what are currently separate urban, rural,
Wellington volunteer and paid firefighting forces. The NZFFA supports this initiative.
Phone: 04 385 9705 The perpetual rural roads funding issue is currently coming to a head, with many
Mobile: 021 670 672 long term district plans currently being written. This issue has been under-funded by
Email: bateson.publish@xtra.co.nz industry and we need to participate more in local authorities’ decision making to ensure
our interests are being adequately represented. We pay rates throughout the growing
cycle of our trees and then use roads for a small period of time about every 25 years for
Advertising Management
transporting our harvest. Equitable solutions need to be well thought through by councils
Bateson Publishing Limited
when considering differential rating of forest land to cover costs of maintaining roads.
Phone: 04 385 9705
Forest Growers Levy funding will be used to contract an independent resource consultant
to produce a plan that forest owners can use in discussions with councils.
I note with concern the recent discovery of another forestry pest incursion, the
Subscriptions: $50 annually for New Zealand,
eucalyptus variegated leaf beetle. This one arrived in Hawkes Bay and may be too
$NZ55 for Australia, $NZ65 for the rest of the
world, including postage. widespread to eradicate. This is putting the incursion response system to the test, especially
now that Government Industry Agreement is in place with the Forest Owners Association,
Subscription enquiries and changes of address whereby industry now has a say in how we respond to incursions, but also share in the costs.
should be sent to NZ Farm Forestry Association,
Woodco has been active with new chairman Brian Stanley of the Wood Processors
PO Box 10 349, The Terrace, Wellington.
Phone 04 472 0432 and Manufacturers Association advocating for a wood first policy in New Zealand, along
with government policy which addresses illegally logged imported timber and other
The Tree Grower is published in February, May, big-picture policies we would like to see central government improve. We are a horse
August and November.
worth backing but we do not believe the settings are right yet. WoodCo is pursuing a
The Tree Grower is partly funded strategic partnership with the government to discuss issues and opportunities. Although
by the Forest Grower’s Levy the 30-year time horizon for forestry complicates things, forestry has much to offer and
WoodCo look forward to reporting on positive results from this.
Regarding the running of our own organisation, the NZFFA executive has agreed
that we set up executive sub-committees, each chaired by an executive member and
which address topics such as policy, communications and promotions. Having some
structure around these key activities via sub-committees, with reporting back to the
executive on tasks and actions, allows for participation in decision making by non-
executive members, as officers of the NZFFA.
2 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016
Conference field days
The Hokitika conference
Julian Bateson
It is now over three months since the Hokitika conference, the main event
of the year for many farm forestry members. It was a very well organised
conference which we all enjoyed. Nick Ledgard wrote a summary of
the conference in his North Canterbury branch newsletter and the next
paragraph includes his concluding comments.
The field-trips were interspersed with short addresses the conference field days as well as the impressions of
by technical experts. They were factual, short and an Australian visitor. We may occasionally hear some
sweet, and well presented – a welcome feature of criticism of the NZFFA conferences and suggestions for
recent conferences. Evening meals were well watered change but we should always listen to the compliments.
by sponsors, with local catering in a range of halls – Carol Neal, a member of the Australian Forest Grower
Shantytown, Hokitika Boys Brigade and the Reefton Association, says in her article that many small-scale
RSA. These were the best times for catching up forest growers in her region are unaware of the
with old acquaintances and making new ones. Farm importance of sharing information and experiences and
forestry conference are well worth attending – always that the NZFFA model is well worth replicating.
an eagerly awaited highlight of my year. If the NZFFA are getting such compliments from
It sums up my impression what many of the 200 small-scale forest owners in another country, we should
conference attendees would have said if asked. If you continue to build on what we do well. Conferences with
were not there, you missed another great conference. field days do take up time and may not be for everyone,
The weather helped significantly. It was sometimes but they can be the highlight of the year for many of us.
difficult on the field days to relate to the anguished The next few pages contain written accounts of
tales of planting and growing trees in wind, rain and the first three field days. The aim is to find space in the
waterlogged ground as we basked in days of seemingly next issue of Tree Grower for the remaining field day
never-ending sunshine. reports. Meanwhile, below are a few more photographs
The following few pages have some accounts of reminding us of the good times at the conference.
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 3
Conference field days
Matching the trees to the site
The first of the Hokitika conference field days was at Susi
Thompson and Rob Danford’s property. This was originally a
140 hectare grazing block which was purchased in 1988, with
Susi and Rob living on it since 1993.The soils are some of the
oldest and most infertile pakihi on the West Coast. Clay with the
ironpans producing a high virtual water table. Deep down below
all this is gravel containing gold.
The first trees on this property, some eucalypts, Good native understorey
blackwood and poplar, were planted in 1988 and some While we were among the trees Susi and Rob said they
are still only about two metres tall due to the infertile were just happy to see that most of the trees were still
shallow soil which gets regularly waterlogged. To help vertical although they were a bit thin and need to be left
improve this situation V-blading was carried out to help to grow a bit more. During questions it was suggested
break up the soil and improve the tree growth, although that as any more thinning would be too late, to look
this did result in more trees being blown over in the at the best 100 trees in a hectare and pretend the other
wind. Some amenity planting was also carried out to smaller ones are not there. As the canopy had not yet
provide habitat for native birds. closed, there was more growth to come and waiting was
a good option.
Pine and cypress Nick Ledgard said he was impressed at how well the
Radiata pine was first planted in 1992 along with native understorey was regenerating. He suggested that
some trials of macrocarpa, black alder and manuka. A with precision harvesting they could remove the trees
further six hectares of radiata pine were planted in 1994 and leave the shade tolerant podocarps already growing
along with Lawson cypress and some lusitanica. In the to recover and grow to maturity. He also said that they
following years more alternative species were added. could add to the regeneration from the seeds brought
We went to have a look at some of the radiata which in by birds by planting some more native trees. It was
were GF17 planted at 600 per hectare and pruned to noticeable how many bellbirds we could hear among
seven metres in four lifts. These had been thinned, but these pines.
only by a small amount. Susi and Rob’s concern had
been to prevent windthrow which is quite common Match trees to the site
after thinning in West Coast forests. The trees were last Rob has planted a range of experimental trees for food
fertilised in 2003 with phosphate and waste dust from and timber. These include swamp white oak, chestnut,
the cement works, but not much nitrogen. English walnut, black walnut and stone pine as well as
The site had been V-bladed using a bulldozer to a variety of apples and other fruit. He was very keen
produce mounds on which the trees were planted to to show these and many more to us but there was
avoid the waterlogged soil. However, this had not always insufficient time on the day, a familiarly acceptable
worked as the water table is not far below the mound problem with conference field days − to leave us
and trees can still fall over because their roots are too wanting more. His general advice was to start planting
shallow. In one place a whole row at the edge of the as soon as possible and keep planting, even if you do not
forest was blown over. Mounding is expensive and Susi see the benefits straight away. As with all such planting
thought that now it would probably cost too much to he emphasised it is important to match the trees to the
be viable. site, not the site to the trees.
4 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016
Conference field days New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 5
Conference field days
Viaduct Creek
The second part of the field day on Monday was to visit Viaduct
Creek owned by Glenn Crickett and Catherine van Paassen. When
they bought it the land was rough grazing with gorse, sphagnum
and just a few tracks. Planting began in 1997 with blackwood,
radiata pine and Eucalyptus nitens for firewood.
The original plan was explained by Glenn, which was addition some fertiliser, now at 14 years old they were
to grow firewood on a short rotation using E.nitens in a looking a lot more like blackwoods should look.
form of agro-forestry. However, he also decided that this Glenn said it had been a bad start but was picking
eucalypt could also produce timber which would need a up well, helped by adding plantain which is deep
different management system. rooting and also dries the ground. There was such strong
The blackwood will be the dominant crop as the competition from the eucalypts used as companion
eucalypts are mainly for his firewood business. He planting that he would ‘physically restrain’ anyone who
can sell eucalypt firewood at $90 a cubic metre and tries to companion plant in the future.
reckoned that he can make more money as a continuous
firewood operation that doing anything else with his Why bother with blackwoods?
eucalypt. However, he is interested in developing more Glenn said that he continues with blackwoods because
with this timber if he can find suitable markets. he likes them. He used to prune the blackwoods in
the same way that he pruned pines years ago when he
Agro-forestry worked in forestry, but it did not seem to be such a good
We first walked among the eucalypts which were 15 idea. Then he saw a Tree Grower article by Ian Brown
years old, pruned to six metres and going to be thinned and thought ‘Ian was dreaming or on to something’.
in the following spring, some of the wood to be milled He eventually managed to visit Ian and had a long
for timber and the rest for firewood. The agro-forestry discussion about pruning blackwood. However, what
look of around 70 or 80 stems a hectare is what Glenn he was trying to do still did not seem to work. Then
wants for the whole property so that there is plenty of Ian Nicholas dropped for a visit about 10 years ago and
pasture for grazing. introduced him to gauge pruning.
Initially the eucalypts were planted on the flat He now uses gauge pruning along with Ian Brown’s
ground but then it was decided to mound the ground leader control and the combined approach seems to
with a digger and to make these mounds eight metres work. He admitted he will need to do some crown
apart. The land between the trees was flipped after about pruning when the final eucalypts have been removed
five years to improve the drainage, help develop better and there are still too many double leaders on the
root structure and avoid the trees being blown over. blackwood with trees competing with themselves.
Planting involved putting three trees close together Originally every blackwood was going to be pruned to
and after six years keeping the dominant tree of the five or six metres, but after Cyclone Ita knocked over
three, with the others removed. The dominant trees are lots of trees on the West Coast he decided that around
eventually pruned to five or six metres. In hindsight 4.5 metres would be enough.
Glenn said the mounds should have been at 12 metres
apart as eight metres is a bit close for the fully grown trees Pruning safety
In the discussions among the trees, safety when pruning
Into the blackwoods was raised because it is not easy and people can get
We then moved on to have a look at the blackwoods. careless. Glenn said that there is a range of ladders and
Glenn explained that these did not grow well at first after safety harnesses out there now which are excellent and
being planted in 1999 inter-mixed with some E.nitens that you would be ‘bloody stupid’ not to use them. He
and E.mearnsii. In 2014 an excavator was used to flip the also added that you need to take your time, allow for
ground and break through the ironpan two metres below. fatigue and drink lots of water. It was excellent safety
With a drier environment due to better drainage and the advice to finish the day.
6 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016
Conference field days
Eucalypts pruned to six metres A good stand of blackwood
Ian Brown providing some advice Some experimental eucalypts
Admiring some of the blackwood
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 7
Conference field days
Arahura Valley where the
soil may bring you to tears
The morning of Wednesday saw us visiting Jack and
Kay Davidson’s 70-hectare block which now has roughly
38 hectares in pasture, 25 hectares in forestry and seven in
a QE II Trust covenant.
Jack said that if he tells us everything about the soil it says that is what farm foresters do.
will bring us to tears. It is the standard West Coast pakihi There were still lot of lusitanica for us to see, some
formed about 10,000 years ago, strongly acidic with with canker, and Jack admitted to not having carried
no nutrient reserves. Hump and hollow or flipping is out enough thinning and there would not be any more
the answer, a subject we had already heard about a lot, pruning as he says he does the work at his own pace.
the process of removing the top vegetation of clay and He expected that most of the trees would end up as
bringing the gravel on to the top. However, it is quite an firewood but did ask for constructive criticism. He said
expensive process. The hollows have also been flipped as people should look, learn and not do what he has done.
these got a bit too wet and this meant going quite deep, In the following discussion he was asked how much
three or four metres down. gorse he had as Dudley Franklin said if you can grow
An additional problem with this land is that there are gorse you can grow anything. Jack said that some parts
a lot of tunnels under the ground which used to be gold could not grow any gorse.
mine drainage tunnels. Jack admitted that they do not Other questions involved the inevitable flipping
know where these tunnels are until a digger finds them and how much it cost. Jack thought it was around
and the soil collapses. They nearly lost a 20-tonne digger $2,500 a hectare but this also included adding some
in one of these collapsed tunnels. The one advantage of superphosphate. Land now costs around $5,000
the land is that it is easy and relatively cheap to put in unimproved, although it can be more, varying a lot with
the roading. the price of the dairy payout. Lania Holt of Scion asked
As we have seen before, the tree planting is on what the harvest plan was, but it seemed there was none.
mounds produced after V-blading. However, this means
that the trees grow quite rapidly for about 10 years then A lot of work
the wind blows them down. The more fertiliser put on We moved on to look at a range of eucalypts, including
the faster they grow and the sooner they blow over – or some of the ground durable E. bositoana. He said he
so Jack told us. experimented a lot with trees having tried 11 different
species of eucalypts and puts blackwoods into any gaps
Mainly macrocarpa he can find. There was an interesting discussion about
We walked past a selection of eucalypts into the cypress the different eucalypts and their durability when used as
plantation. We were met with the now familiar hump timber.
and hollow landscape with the trees planted on the top On the way back, after seeing the QE II block, we
of the humps. These cypress trees were now just on 20 had to walk across the pasture which had been humped
years old, and originally it was half macrocarpa and half and hollowed. Seeing people almost disappearing in the
lusitanica. However, all the macrocarpa failed due to dips between the humps was a very clear indication of
canker, the disease encouraged in the wet atmosphere the amount of work required to create these mounds
of the West Coast. Jack planted cypress because his old almost two metres above the hollows between. Walking
building clients thought cypress would replace rimu. He around the West Coast land shows more and more how
hopes his lusitanica will grow to a reasonable height in much the ground has to be worked to allow exotic trees
35 to 40 years. He is trying a lot of other species as he or simple farmland to thrive.
8 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016Conference field days
The remaining cypress An attentive audience
One of the deeper hollows Some radiata pine
Most field days allowed for an interesting walk Part of the QEII block
Some of the trial eucalypts In and out of the humps and hollows
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 9Conference field days
The Hokitika Conference
Some impressions from an Australian delegate
Carol Neal
I was fortunate enough to attend the NZFFA Conference in Hokitika earlier this year. I was
so impressed with the NZFFA structure and membership that I felt it important to extend my
congratulations and share some, although only a small number, of the many highlights of the week.
I am a member of the Australian Forest Grower on most of the flatter land creates a thin layer of peat
Association, and also a member of a group of small- near the surface and an infertile, acidic, structureless layer
scale growers, the Specialty Timber Growers group. Our of silt below.
group extends from north Queensland to northern These soil types are challenging and costly for tree
New South Wales, with the largest number of members farming. During plantation establishment phase, most
concentrated in southeast Queensland. growers have undertaken the expensive operation of
I noted that membership in New Zealand consists flipping and mounding by bringing the loose gravel,
mostly of small-scale growers, and was encouraged sometimes at three to four metre depths, along with
by the fellowship, interaction and cohesion between mineral pans to the surface. Other site preparation
them. Many small-scale growers in my region remain in techniques involve humping and hollowing – digging
isolation and are unaware of the importance of sharing large trenches to break through the hard pan and
information, experiences and support from fellow provide drainage with the fill from the hollows used to
growers and organisations. The NZFFA model is well create large mounds or humps in between the hollows,
worth replicating. or V-blading to break up the hard pan and create
mounds. Trees are planted on these mounds. The cost of
Courageous and inspirational West fertilisation adds to establishment and management costs.
Coast growers
I commend West Coast growers for their courage and Field trip highlights
tenacity in developing farm forestry in their challenging In addition to visits to places of historical significance,
geological and climatic conditions. Growers plant over mills and national parks, the conference consisted mostly
the hard ironpan layers which prevent water movement of field trips hosted by growers. Below are what I
into the loosely aggregated gravels below. Waterlogging thought were some good examples of the resilience and
Rob and Susi discussing some
of the native understorey Admiring the pruned blackwood at Viaduct Creek Eucalypt ready to be milled
10 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016Conference field days
Eucalyptus nitens at Arahura Valley Red beech forest after harvest Rimu and beech processed into sawn boards
innovation of these West Coast growers. been sustainably harvested, density is such that
• Susi Thompson and Rob Danford of Korimako considerable effort and cost to may be required to
took a multi-purpose approach by adding fruit trees reduce stand density.
and undertaking trials of exotic timber trees to their • Finally, Jon Dronfield, manager of NZ Sustainable
24-year-old radiata plantation. Regenerating native Forest Products Sawmill and Veneer Plant at Reefton
ferns are retained in the understory. New plantings gave us insight into the end-product and market
are fenced off to keep their animal stock out. implications. This mill services 20 native timber
• Catherine van Paassen and Glenn Crickett at landowners who sustainably manage their trees.
Viaduct Creek shared results of their Eucalyptus Rimu and beech extracted from native forests
nitens and Tasmanian blackwood. They are not afraid following Cyclone Ita in April 2014 has been
to disclose failures as well as share their successes. processed into rough sawn board and peeled for
A great attribute in helping fellow growers. veneer. However, an over-saturated market of rimu has
Poor form eucalypts are milled for firewood left Jon with low outputs and possibly reduced value.
with a sawmill as a source of income. The mill is also
good training for Glenn for when serious timber
processing begins.
The NZFFA strengths
• Jack and Kay Davidson’s diverse property is at Arahura As in Australia, small-scale forests in New Zealand are
Valley. It consists of Eucalyptus nitens and other exotic quite diverse. They differ between regions according to
tree plantings in addition to timber species for bee climatic conditions, species, forest management practices
production and stock food for his cattle. Jack and Kay and markets. It was clear from the various field days
have also covenanted an area of a regenerating native that Scion, the forestry and timber research institute,
podocarp forest under the QEII Trust. This is a good supports the NZFFA and provides up-to-date research
example of a whole farm management. information and funding for further research.
• I had a personal interest in this next property which One of NZFFA’s strengths is that its growers have
consisted of second rotation beech species at Ken formed action groups according to their species or genus
and Robyn Ferguson’s Waipuna Station in Grey of interest. The fact that the groups conveniently meet
Valley. The red beech cupboards in my little cottage at the annual conferences guarantees good attendances.
in Australia are manufactured from heli-harvested The large attendance, of over 200 delegates, is testimony
New Zealand red beech. to this cohesion and cooperation which is generated by
In New Zealand this timber seems to be of the growers.
limited market demand. The tough, durable wood Finally, congratulations to the West Coast committee
properties are considered to be a lower grade and and volunteers, for an excellent and well run conference.
has historically been considered only suitable for It reminds me of the analogy of the duck gliding on
construction. However, from a personal perspective smooth waters, and with little legs paddling like crazy
this species has proved to be very attractive furniture underneath. The organisers saw the little legs paddling,
grade timber. Although the forest has historically but we delegates’ saw the duck on smooth waters.
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 11More on carbon credits
Clean water and carbon credits
How to get the most from fencing streams
Roger May
Earlier this year the Ministry for the Environment published the consultation document Next Steps
for Freshwater. Submissions on this closed on 22 April. This is part of the continuing process to
develop the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management, first notified in 2011, and
the National Objectives Framework for freshwater introduced in 2014.
The Next Steps for Freshwater contains a number of liberal policy, it is actually unrealistic and impractical.
proposals including two of critical importance to Fence posts cannot be driven in right next to the
farmers. The first is a proposal to create a national waterway and fence lines cannot strictly follow the path
regulation to exclude stock from water bodies − streams, of a stream or other water body. For a range of practical
rivers, and lakes. It covers dairy, beef, deer and pig reasons, such a fence needs to be at some distance from
farming and includes a timetable for implementation. the water.
Sheep and goat farming are not included. But many land owners may resent the cost and effort
Despite the fact that stock often enter water bodies of fencing these water bodies and the seeming loss of
while grazing on slopes over 15°, the proposal excludes productive land. However, there are solutions which
these slopes for all these farm types. In addition, it is not could go a long way to easing these two hurdles and
clear how areas of sloping land are to be measured and improve water quality at the same time.
identified.
Nevertheless, under the proposals farmers will be Planting the margins
required to fence water bodies unless there is a natural The most beneficial solution is to increase the width
barrier preventing stock from getting to the water. of the fenced riparian margin on both sides of a stream
The regulations will apply to natural wetlands as well and plant the enclosed area with high value timber
as permanently flowing waterways and drains greater trees. By designing the fencing so that the average width
than a metre wide and 30 centimetres deep. It excludes of the future tree canopy is at least 30 metres, that is
damp gully heads, places of temporary ponding, or about 20 metres between the fences, all those trees
built structures such as effluent ponds, reservoirs or would be eligible to earn carbon credits. If the right
channels. Although not stated, it is assumed here that the choice of species is made, these trees would stabilise the
regulations will also apply to lakes. streambanks, reduce erosion, retain some of the overland
soil erosion, shade the waterway and reduce water
No riparian buffers temperatures, and ultimately provide a valuable timber
The second important proposal is that no riparian resource.
buffers, the streamside margins between the fence and There is a wide range of special purpose timber
the waterway, will be required. While this may be a species that are suitable for such a planting but the best
Farm type Plains with slope from 0° – 3° Lowland rolling land from 4° – 15°
Dairy cattle on milking platform 1 July 2017
Dairy support owned by dairy farmer 2020
Dairy support third party grazing 2025
Beef 2025 2030
Deer 2025 2030
Pigs 1 July 2017
12 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016More on carbon credits
$200,000
$150,000
Total carbon credits for
10 hectares of trees $100,000
Based on current carbon prices
Hardwoods
$50,000
Radiata
Douglas fir
Softwoods
Indigenous
$0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Age in years
-$50,000
choice, especially for earning carbon credits, are the • Other exotic softwoods such as macrocarpa
exotic hardwoods. Farmers with a greater conservation • Other exotic hardwoods such as oak or eucalypts
impulse may also under-plant the main planting with • Indigenous or native.
longer-term native shrub and tree species. The graph above is based on these five tables showing
the total value of credits for 10 hectares of trees up to
Rising price
25 years after planting. It is based on today’s carbon
Last year the government closed the loophole allowing price and, conservatively, increasing at a dollar a tonne
carbon emitters to buy cheap credits from overseas and each year. The calculations do not include the costs
since then, the price of a New Zealand Unit has been of land preparation, seedlings or planting but do
regaining lost value. At 18 July the price was $17.90 a take account of the costs associated with joining the
tonne, up from less than $2 in mid-2013, and predicted Emissions Trading Scheme and lodging all mandatory
to increase even further. carbon credit returns.
Joining the Emissions Trading Scheme is voluntary While carbon credits have to be repaid on harvested
but land owners with eligible trees planted after 1989 trees, these liabilities can be minimised by spreading
need to join in order to receive carbon credits from the initial planting, the harvesting and the replanting
their growing trees. Different tree species sequester over a number of years. This method is more likely
or absorb carbon at different rates. For those with less to be economically feasible with higher value timber
than 100 hectares in the Emissions Trading Scheme, the trees such as the hardwoods and some special-purpose
Ministry for Primary Industries has a set of five tables softwoods.
for calculating the sequestered carbon
• Radiata by region Roger May,Tomorrows Forests Ltd on
• Douglas fir info@tomorrowsforests.co.nz
NZFFA 2017 conference Feilding from 6 to 9 April
Now is a good time to make sure your diary is free for the 2017 NZFFA conference. It is being
hosted by Middle Districts and is based in Feilding from Thursday 6 April to Sunday 9 April.
There is an additional field day on Monday 10 April as an optional extra for those able to stay a
little longer.
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 13Forest inventory
The science or art of forest
inventory
Alan Bell
Measuring trees should be easy enough. You plant so many per hectare and there are so many
hectares. So what is all the fuss about? Well, trees have a habit of pleasing themselves a bit. Add
in some natural variation and human forest management and after 25 years you end up with
quite an unknown asset. That is why you need to measure them if you want to avoid big surprises
at harvest time.
Why do you need forest inventory? Let us start with the How to carry out an inventory
statement – all trees are not equal. Even within one small
woodlot there will be big trees and small trees despite Measurement of net stocked area
being planted on the same day and having similar growing Free on-line mapping systems are available if you have
conditions. The key is that trees respond to microsite good internet coverage. GPS is also very useful for very
differences and to add more variation, forest management small blocks. For larger blocks where there is serious
practices are not totally similar. For example, often cash mapping to be done, such as for exclusion of gaps
flow dominates the tending regime, and thinning or and boundary problems, it is best to get a professional
pruning may be delayed or abandoned before completion. draughtsman on the job such as Manawatu Aerial Photo
Given the nature of forests it is not possible to check Services in Palmerston North.
on the work easily. In some cases the forest may change Remember that the area is one of the most critical
hands and all previous history is lost. All of these reasons parameters for your woodlot value. Be aware that
are why at some stage, if you want to know the value of areas registered for the Emissions Trading Scheme
the forest, then a forest inventory will be needed. Other are generally not as tight as normal net stocked area
reasons for forest inventory include – mapping. Emissions Trading Scheme areas may be higher
• Asset value for accounting purposes by 10 per cent because they allow a larger edge buffer.
• Estate planning
Sampling
• Buying and selling
• Ensuring you are getting value for money at harvest Unless your forest is very small then it is inefficient to
time measure every tree so some kind of sampling is required.
• Keeping the harvesting company honest Small forests are unlikely to warrant the use of aerial
• Avoiding unexpected surprises. measurement such as Lidar, and ground-based manual
bounded plots are likely to give more usable information
Knowledge of your trees gives some control and allows
at reasonable cost. If differences in blocks are definable
you to compare options intelligently.
or there are multiple age classes then consider splitting
and sampling each one independently, with the overall
mean being weighted by area.
Sampling intensity
Sampling intensity is the ratio of area measured − the
sampled area to total area. For example, if there are 10
plots of 0.06 hectares measured in a 20 hectare woodlot
then the area sampled is 0.6 hectares and the sampling
intensity is 0.6 divided by 20 which is three per cent.
Sampling intensity is usually between one and
three per cent and is a compromise between cost
and obtaining meaningful results. Sampling intensity
Even at a young age it is clear that not every tree is equal
should be related to the intended use of the results. For
14 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016Forest inventory
example, if a forest is being harvested on a managed sale Precision is normally referred to as the probable limit
basis then the intensity of sampling can be relaxed as of error and is displayed as a percentage of the sample
there is not so much riding on the results. On the other mean. In New Zealand forestry the probable limit of
hand if a lump sum sale is contemplated then a higher error is estimated at the 95 per cent probability level.
intensity and better coverage would be advisable. For example, if we say that the mean total recoverable
volume is 675 cubic metres a hectare and the probable
Precision and accuracy limit of error is 8.9 per cent, then we are saying the
An accurate estimate is one that is close to the true mean is 675. But 95 times out of 100 we expect the true
mean, regardless of how it was derived. A precise population mean to be within 8.9 per cent of 675 −
estimate hopefully is accurate but that is not guaranteed, within the range 615 to 735 cubic metres a hectare.
especially if the samples were biased. For example, if The level of precision depends on the natural
all the plots were located in sheltered gullies the mean variation within the sample plus the number of plots
might be precise as all the plots would be similar, but the that are measured. The number of plots used affects the
mean would not represent the overall forest and would students ‘t’ value and this is multiplied by the standard
not be accurate. Therefore, precision represents the
error to arrive at the probable limit of error. As you can
amount of variability about the mean whereas accuracy
see in the graph, when number of plots is below 15, the
refers to how close the sample mean is to the true
‘t’ value rises dramatically. This is why no matter what
population mean. It is important to note this difference
you do, the precision in small samples will always be low
between accuracy and precision.
and often above the desired 10 per cent.
In reasonable sized blocks, say 15 hectares or more, it
With small blocks it is not worth the effort of aiming
is reasonable to aim for a mean with a level of precision
for low precision. Just concentrate on covering the block
of around plus or minus 10 per cent. This is the standard
in New Zealand plantation forestry sampling. However, and ensuring the sample represents the population.
in small woodlots the idea of aiming for a level of
precision of 10 per cent is unrealistic. Types of inventory
Quality control plots
Students t value versus number of plots
Students t value at 95 per cent probability
Quality control plots are normally used to check that
2.9 a forest operation has been completed to a satisfactory
2.8 standard. Examples are at planting when plots are used
2.7
2.6
to check spacing and planting technique, at pruning to
2.5 check pruned height, tree selection, diameter over stub
2.4 and pruning quality, and at thinning when final stocking
2.3
and tree selection are checked.
2.2
2.1
Quality control plots are often hard to deal with as
2.0 they occur when the trees are young and there is a lot
1.9
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
of undergrowth or thinnings on the ground. Because of
Number of plots in sample this only the main parameters are measured.
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 15Forest inventory
It is common for quality control data to be intensive than mid-rotation inventory. Sampling intensity
developed in growth models to predict future harvest is usually around three per cent of the area. The aim of
volumes by grade. This can be of some use but it should pre-harvest inventory is often to allow calculation of
be remembered that growing trees from a young age is expected nett stumpage in the current markets. Therefore,
likely to result in an over-prediction of volume. it is important to ensure that the plots represent what is
in the forest and that the stem descriptions can be used in
Mid-rotation inventory the subsequent harvesting template. The table below gives
Normally mid-rotation inventory takes place some a typical breakdown of where different sized branches
years after all tending has been completed. The forest end up in terms of log grades.
is basically finished in terms of treatment and just has Circular bounded plots are most commonly used
to grow to maturity. Mid-rotation inventory is usually because these minimise the edge effect and are easier to
low intensity, covering between one and two per cent locate and measure accurately. A plot size of 600 square
of the area, and is used for general wood flow planning, metres adjusted for slope is suitable for most final crop
valuations and for due diligence. stockings between 250 and 350 stems a hectare. Plots are
The main drawbacks with mid-rotation inventory normally located using GPS and all trees are numbered.
are that between the time of the inventory and maturity, Field measurement approach plots can be used as a
branch sizes may increase and sweep may become less guide to stocking, diameter, height and therefore total
significant as diameter increases. Therefore, the later you volume. However, unless they are fully measured for
carry out a mid-rotation inventory the better as you will stem description, then the data will not be of benefit to
record the grade aspects more effectively. A late mid- predicting log grade outturn. One strategy would be check
rotation inventory, for example when the trees are age any plots that have already been installed in your forest.
21 to 22 years, can be used with some confidence to
predict log grade at harvest age and will give you some People
confidence in the earning capacity of your trees.You In the past there has been a tendency to use inexperienced
may not even need any further inventory in that stand. workers or students to do forest inventory. The job was
deemed to be low on the list of importance. Therefore,
Pre-harvest inventory often the results from the inventory were likely to be
For both mid-rotation inventory and pre-harvest inventory compromised simply because the people doing it did
you need to measure not just the basic parameters of not know much about trees and logs.
stocking, diameter and height but also the stem description When it comes to your own trees it pays to take an
otherwise known as the cruising data. Each stem within interest as it is your asset which is at stake.Your level of
each plot needs to be described in terms of its pruned interest might range from actually assisting in the tree
height, branching, sweep and any malformation features. measurement process or at least going through one or
Most inventories today use the Plotsafe overlapping two plots with the crew. Alternatively, you could check
feature method and the data is analysed in a programme or audit some of the plots after the crew has moved on
called YTGen. However, there are a few pockets of although this strategy is of little use if you find that the
resistance still using Marvl − a method of recoverable crew were not doing a very good job.
volume by log type to collect the stem descriptions.
The good news is that this Marvl data can be Maintaining the integrity of the inventory
brought into YTGen for analysis.YTGen is a superior Normally when setting up an inventory the target
product for analysing and growing inventory data but is defined and the sampling intensity and inventory
some field workers find the Marvl data collection plan are determined using the defined parameters. It is
method easier and simpler than using Plotsafe. important to realise that in the interests of efficiency
Pre-harvest inventory normally takes place within two most inventory plans are aimed at obtaining a reasonable
or three years of intended harvesting and is mostly more level of precision. Occasionally part of a block will be
Pre-harvest inventory showing branch classes and relevant log grades
Branch class Structural K grade A grade KI grade KIS grade Random pulp
Branches up to 7cm ok ok ok ok ok ok
Branches up to 10cm No ok ok ok ok ok
Branches up to 12cm No No ok ok ok ok
Branches up to 25cm No No No ok ok ok
Branches over 25cm No No No No ok ok
16 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016Forest inventory
harvested and the result will be compared with the Qualities needs to match log grades
inventory mean. It must be remembered that the mean A forest inventory needs to relate to real log grades to
relates to the whole area of trees being considered and some extent. For example, we know that main branch
may not necessarily represent only part of the block. The size classes are normally up to 7 cm for structural grade
acid test is to compare the mean with the result from and up to 10 cm for K grade sawlogs with log small end
the whole block. diameter of 20 cm for export sawlogs.
Similarly, an inventory may have been completed on For A grade sawlogs branch sizes are up to 12 cm
a large block to a reasonable level of precision. During with the log small end diameter 30 or 40 cm. For
harvest planning someone decides to split out two or industrial export sawlogs branch diameter can be up to
three plots that are within a certain logging setting and 25 cm. So when you hire an inventory crew you need
use these as a guide to results for that setting. This may to make sure they are going to describe branches in
be useful, but remember that the sample has suddenly these categories.
reduced from perhaps 20 plots, to no more than three
and the calculated confidence intervals will be large.
Analysing the data
Some of the common pitfalls include −
When analysing the inventory make sure the log cutting
• Not enough plots
• Not enough trees of suitable height schedule is reasonably close to reality, especially the
• Under-estimation of branch sizes small end diameters and log lengths that are currently in
• Not removing gaps from stocked area demand. They change over time and with different log
• Not recognising sweep when checking stems buyers.
• Using Emissions Trading Scheme areas for normal When looking at potential returns make sure
forest operations you account for Japanese Agricultural Standard or
• Unrepresentative samples that do not cover the range Jas conversion. Prices at the wharf gate are normally
of variation in dollars per Jas and there is usually a loss when
• Neglecting to check or interpret yield projections to converting from tonnes to Jas. This is due mainly to
see if they are realistic. taper. Logs from older stands and from the bottom of
trees usually have better Jas conversion, whereas young
Not all trees are equal trees and smaller logs from the upper stem will have low
No amount of tree breeding can overcome the effect of conversion.
wind and shallow soils on ridgelines. Trees will always Despite what some people will tell you there will
be better on sheltered sites. At age 25 or thereabouts, always be a certain amount of random pulp logs in
your trees are the result of not only your good or bad your forest. This is because even export pulp logs are
management but they will show the effects of site and actually destined to be sawn and it needs to be within
climate. For example, even the best farm forester will reasonable limits of sweep. So be prepared to sell some
struggle to grow a good tree on top of a windy ridge. true pulp logs or to leave it on site. However, the latter
Conversely, almost anyone can grow a reasonable tree on is not good for the next rotation and increases the mess
a sheltered fertile site. Sometimes trees look good at a around skid sites.
glance but do not measure up when you actually spend
time describing them in detail. Alan Bell & Associates, based in Lower Hutt.
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 17Safety
Safety with the new health and safety laws
Julian Bateson
The new laws on health and safety have been in operation now for over four months since the
Health and Safety at Work Act came into force at the beginning of April. I have heard of no horror
stories or significant problems as it has taken effect.
The good news is that the consultation process on the I am sceptical about apps, partly because I do not have
WorkSafe guidelines Managing a small forest harvest has or want a smartphone. However, it is expected that the
been completed. To remind you, around six years ago we app will allow the relevant information to be quickly
started a process with ACC to produce similar guidelines and easily reported. If the person sending a report is not
covering safety for small-scale forestry, especially in a mobile reception area, the information can still be
harvesting. After about five years of work, and just before entered and the report will get sent as soon as the phone
the guidelines were about to be published, ACC pulled is in a reception area.
their support. But we did have a draft publication which By the time you read this it is expected that the
has been used as a basis for the WorkSafe guidelines. app will be up and running and available to forestry
The NZFFA have now put in their response to contractors. If so, it will add to the information about
WorkSafe about the guidelines. Improvements have accidents and near misses so that we all learn how to
been suggested and overall, they will be very useful to avoid them in the future.
anyone planning to harvest their trees. Part of the draft
guidelines is printed on the opposite page to help give Accident rate figures suspect
you an idea of some of their content. For many years the statistics about deaths and serious
If all had gone to plan the printed guidelines injuries which occur at work in forestry have been
were due to be available in October. I have explained supplied by WorkSafe or their predecessors. There
frequently to WorkSafe, in excruciating detail, that we were also the injuries and near misses reported by the
need printed copies as well as electronic versions, and reporting system mentioned above. The figures from
this process was looking promising. these two sources, and those from ACC, never seemed to
However, just as we went to press, I was told by the match and a few weeks ago we were told why.
WorkSafe staff member managing the project that she It appears that reporting injuries to WorkSafe is not
is about to move to another job. This is bad news and a top priority for most parts of industry. In fact, under-
could mean that the publication never appears, or at best reporting was discovered to be as high as 90 per cent
is significantly delayed. I apologise for my pessimism. in one primary industry group, with only 10 per cent
of those injury causing accidents reported. Apparently
Accident reporting
forestry probably reports about half or more of the
I have mentioned at some time in the past the incident injuries which occur at work. However, what it all means
reporting system which the larger corporate forest is that what we have been told are increases or decreases
owners have been using for a number of years. Forest in reported injuries are frequently due to changes in
managers report accidents, injuries and near misses reporting rather than changes in the accident rate.
which go to a central database for recording and analysis. You may wonder how these figures can now be
Anonymity of the participants and those involved in the verified and accurate. WorkSafe have carried out research
incidents is guaranteed. using data from a variety of sources to see what really
The problem is that this information has been
happens, not just what is reported to them. It seems that
collected only from some of the larger forestry
the best judge of the accident rate is the information
companies, and none of the smaller ones, meaning
supplied by ACC. This is where the money is paid out.
that many of the accidents or near misses do not get
The slight problem is that it delays the information
recorded. One of the Forest Industry Safety Council
because it takes a while to track it through the ACC
projects is to try and widen the scope of the reporting,
process. However, it does mean that in future we should
eventually to everyone involved in professional forestry
be getting accurate figures on injuries in forestry, with
work. How to get information from an increasing range
zero injuries the target.
of contractors and forest managers is the tricky bit.
To start with, the suggestion is to develop an app – to Julian Bateson is the NZFFA Health and Safety
be used on any smartphone – for the reporting process. representative.
18 New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016Safety
These text extracts are part of the draft consultation guidelines referred to on the previous page. It will give
you an idea of the contents and how useful it will be. Remember, it is a draft from WorkSafe for consultation,
not a final version.
This Good Practice Guideline provides owners
of small forests with practical advice on managing a harvest
1.1 Purpose of this guide A forest manager plans and coordinates the
This document will help small forest owners harvesting activities. You retain some influence and
T
plan a safe forest harvest. It provides practical
information on managing risks common to forest
harvesting activities and advice on how to work
control in decision making and as a PCBU will have
some responsibilities under HSWA. If you choose
to engage a forestry manager it is important to
AF
with other duty holders to ensure everyone meets engage a reputable company with robust health
their health and safety duties. and safety systems.
See Part Three – Engaging Safe Professionals
AF T
1.2 Who is this guide for? for more advice on engaging forest managers and
Small forester owners and farmers with woodlots forestry contractors.
are the primary audience for this document.
Other people who will find this document useful 2.2 Conduct a pre-harvest inventory
DR
are: The pre-harvest inventory assesses your forestry
• Landowners assets. The inventory contains the following
F
• Tree owners or absent owners
• Woodlot managers
• Forest contractors and workers
• Log buyers
• Portable millers
A
• Haulage contractors
1.3 Why is the forest owner important?
Workers in forest operations have high rates of
information:
• an estimate of the total wood volume
• tree size
• possible log types
• areas of windblown or diseased trees.
This information is used to develop a harvest plan
and for marketing.
2.3 Identify physical constraints at the
fatalities and serious injuries. Improving health and
forest
safety performance in this sector requires all those
T
involved in forestry operations to do their bit.
You can use topographic maps and aerial
photographs to identify the constraints associated
DR
Forest owners can influence the health and
with your forest. You should include this
safety performance of other businesses working
information in the harvest plan.
on the harvest. They do this by:
Examples of constraints:
• Consulting, cooperating and coordinating
with other businesses to manage risks. • access points, tracks, roads and bridges
• Only engaging contractors with a health and • overhead power lines
safety system. • underground utilities
• Paying a reasonable price so health and • areas of steep terrain, cliffs or quarries
• boundaries onto neighbouring properties
DR
safety
• rivers and creeks (consider downstream uses
2 Decide how to manage the harvest such as water supply)
You need to decide who will manage the pre- • areas with poor ground conditions (erosion-
harvest and harvesting work. You can manage the prone, unstable or wet soil)
work yourself or engage an agent such as a forest • areas for public access such as roads or
manager. walking and mountain biking tracks.
New Zealand Tree Grower August 2016 19You can also read
