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New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme Review
Paris climate talks
Chinese softwood log and lumber imports down 25%
New Harvesting and Logistics Research Programme
President
Dean Satchell dsatch@gmail.com
-Far North
-Mid North
Newsletter editor
Dean Satchell
dsatch@gmail.com
National Office
Association Manager Glenn Tims
glenn.tims@nzffa.org.nz
Phone: 04 4720432
Executive
Past President
Ian Jackson ijacko@xtra.co.nz
-Ashburton
-South Canterbury
-North Otago
-Sthn High Country (north)
Angus Gordon angusg@xtra.co.nz
-Taupo & Districts
-Middle Districts
-Hawkes Bay
Neil Cullen cullen@farmside.co.nz
-Mid Otago
-South Otago
-Southland
-Sthn High Country (south)
Hamish Levack hlevack@xtra.co.nz
-Gisborne East Coast
-Wairarapa
-Wellington
Patrick Milne patrick@cypress.co.nz
-West Coast
-Central Canterbury
-North Canterbury
Peter Berg
thebergs@ihug.co.nz
-Lower North
-Waitomo
-Waikato
-Bay of Plenty
Don Wallace
don@wallace.gen.nz
-Taranaki
-Marlborough
-Nelson
The members area of the NZFFA website can be accessed by using your email address and password to log in.
Your email address MUST be the address you have provided to NZFFA for your subscription (which happens to be the one this newsletter was sent to...).
If you don't have a password or can't remember it, you can get one very easily. Just follow the instructions here.
Any problems logging in then email me.
Dean Satchell, website administrator
e-Newsletter
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PHD scholarship available
Saving trees by linking genetics, chemistry and morphology to maximise tree growth and survival. University of Tasmania – School of Biological Sciences. More>>
Markhamia lutea
"I have been involved with tree and shrub import and agroforestry in Cambodia I'm now retired. A lecturer at Auckland University contacted me before Christmas advising me of a tree I gave to the previouse owner and asked of its name which I provided in return I got cuttings and seed. The latter has worked and I have 25+/- seedlings of Markhamia lutea a great timber tree for hot well drained sites It has ornamental and medicinal qualities as well I would like to see these established in two suitable holding as a gene pool $7 each would be a reasonable amount for me? I'm in Cockle Bay AKL 095506049." John Whitehead
Small scale forestry safety guidelines
The NZ Farm Forestry Association, with support from the Forest Growers Commodity Levy, has just produced guidelines to help growers comply with current health and safety legislation as it applies to… more>>
Exceptional Efforts by New Zealand Forester Rewarded
The Wood Council of New Zealand is delighted that Dr Andrew McEwen has received an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours' List for… more>>
Afforestation, Taxation, and the Paris Climate Talks
The Paris climate deal is likely to focus Government’s attention on making the Emission Trading Scheme work to accelerate the national rate that land is afforested, either as new planting… more>>
New Zealand Forest Certification Association Incorporated
The Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), one of the world’s leading forest certification schemes has, this week in Switzerland, endorsed the New Zealand Forest Certification Scheme... more>>
Wood Council of New Zealand - New Leadership
Brian Stanley has been elected Chair of the Wood Council of New Zealand. The Wood Council celebrates its 10th anniversary this year as New Zealand's peak body for the forest… more>>
For more information on these events, they are posted on the NZFFA website >>
Branch secretaries, please make sure you notify head office of any branch or action group events.
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NZFFA Conference 2016
"The West Coast - Something for Everyone". Conference 2016 will be held at Hokitika, Westland Sunday 17th April - Thursday 21st April 2016. More >>
Download the registration form here>>
Register for conference online >>
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Wood residue to energy opportunities in Auckland, 4 February, Corban Estate Arts Centre, Henderson, Auckland. more >>
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Wellington branch AGM will be held at Zealandia at 10 am on Sunday, 7 February.
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Marlborough Dryland Forests Initiative field day - Durable eucalypt forestry field trip, Wednesday 10th February, 2.00 – 5.00 pm, Marborough Regional Forests Pukaka forest, and Saggers trial site, Ben Morven Rd, South Marlborough.
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Gisborne Dryland Forests Initiative field day - Durable eucalypt field day, Saturday 20th February 1.30 – 4.30 pm, Te Koawa Station, 1131 Whakarau Road, 50 km north-west of Gisborne. Our host landowners are Bob Wishart and Meg Gaddum.
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14th Annual FOA/MPI Forest Biosecurity Workshop - Are we prepared for bio-invaders? 23 & 24 February 2016, Rimu Room, Scion, Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua
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Bay of Plenty Dryland Forests Initiative field day - Durable eucalypt forestry field day, Friday 26th February 12.00 – 4.30 pm, TECT All Terrain Park, Pyes Pa Road SH 36, Bay of Plenty
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South Otago branch field day, Friday 26 February 2016 at 2pm, At the property of Graham and Pam Hunter, winners of the Husqvarna South Island Farm Forestry Award 2015. Address: Tuapeka West, 202 Kononi Road, Lawrence
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Ground-durable eucalypts: a potential forestry opportunity for the Taupo District FIELD TRIP AND EVENING SEMINAR, When: Tuesday 1st March 2016. Registration form >>
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Forest Genetics for Productivity Conference - "The next generation". Scion is proud to host an IUFRO Division 2 (Physiology and Genetics) conference in 2016 in our home city of Rotorua, New Zealand, 14 – 18 March 2016, Rotorua Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
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ForestWood 2016 Conference, Wednesday 16 March 2016, SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre, 88 Federal Street www.forestwood.org.nz
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New Zealand Land Treatment Collective Annual Conference 2016, 16-18 March 2016, Gisborne. More>>
Modern eucalyptus sawmilling technology in Tasmania
Dean Satchell's blog >>
Not all doom and gloom for alternative species
John Fairweather's blog >>
Climate Change: from a Protest to a Movement
Chris Perley's Blog >>
Members can set up their own blogs on the NZFFA website. Email Dean.
Environment commitee meeting, 29 October 2015 >>
Promotions & Membership Committee 24 November 2015 >>
Biosecurity Committee meeting November 2015 >>
FOA executive meeting 25 November 2015 >>
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Review 2015/16: Discussion document and call for written submissions
You will be aware that the government is currently running a consultation process on a review of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
The discussion document is available here: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate-change/new-zealand-emissions-trading-scheme-review-2015-16-discussion-document
And the submission website is at: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/consultation/new-zealand-ets-review-201516-consultation
Two submission dates have been notified as follows:
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5pm, 19 February for priority issues
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5pm, 30 April 2016 for other matters.
There are also two targeted meetings planned in the near future as follows:
5 February in Christchurch
12 February in Wellington
NZFFA has remained in close contact with the Ministry for the Environment on this process and the following information may be useful in terms of deciding what, how and where you may wish to participate.
The 19 February deadline priority issues are specifically and exclusively related to the one-for-two subsidy and any implications related to its removal, including the time frame for any change, implications for the price cap, etc. All other matters can be left until the second deadline.
Similarly, both the targeted meetings in Christchurch and Wellington are intended to be focussed only on the topic of the one-for-two and related implications. This should be noted, particularly, by those who have signalled an interest in attending either of these sessions.
It is expected that further workshops on other matters will be held post 19 February and before 30 April (likely in mid to late March). In particular, technical notes on forestry are expected to be released on approximately the 26th of February. These should provide guidance and assistance on other matters of interest to forest owners.
NZFFA will be submitting on both areas and our position is likely to be consistent with previous representations we have made on the ETS.
The Paris Climate Conference took place from 30 November to 11 December 2015, in Paris, France. The Conference comprised the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 11).
The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed countries to emission reduction targets. The Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. The second commitment period began on 1 January 2013 and will end in 2020.
The mandate for Paris was “to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties.” David Rhodes, CEO of the Forest Owners Association attended the COP talks as a member of the New Zealand delegation. This allowed David to attend both informal and formal negotiating sessions and maintain close communication with the NZ negotiators.
A full report prepared by David Rhodes of the NZ Forest Owners Association on the Paris talks from a New Zealand and forestry perspective can be found by clicking here >>
Source: Friday offcuts
The reduction in house construction in China has resulted in a substantial decline in the importation of forest products during 2015, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The total value of imported softwood logs and lumber has fallen 25% and import prices have declined almost 30% that past 12 months.
China imported softwood logs and lumber valued at 498 million dollars during the month of November in 2015. This was 26% lower than the same month in 2014 and the third lowest monthly level in three years. As recently as April 2014, the import value was at an all-time high of almost 900 million dollars, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ).
The reduced demand for both overseas and domestic wood products in 2015 has been a consequence of the slowdown in the Chinese economy, which has not only reduced construction activities but also consumer spending on home remodeling and furniture. Not only have log and lumber imports plummeted the past year, but so has the price paid for imported products.
In November 2015, the average costs of imported softwood logs were down 30% from their peak in April of 2014 to reach their lowest level since early 2009. The biggest price drops during 2015 were for logs from New Zealand, Australia and Russia. According to the WRQ (woodprices.com), domestic log prices have fallen much less than import prices during 2015, with Chinese fir sawlog prices declining less than six percent from the 1Q/15 to the 4Q/15.
Lumber import prices to China have also fallen during 2014 and 2015, but the decline has been slightly lower than for that of logs. In November of 2015, average lumber import prices were 27% lower than their peak in September 2014. The biggest price declines have been for lumber imported from Canada, Sweden, Chile and Russia, while the price fall for hemlock and Douglas-fir from the US has been quite moderate.
It is interesting to note that the Swedish and Finnish sawmills, which are selling into the high-end market in China, actually increased their shipments to China during 2015 as compared to 2014. This is in contrast to the US, Canada and Chile, which reduced their sales to China in 2015 by over 20%. The market share for the Nordic sawmills in November 2015 was almost nine percent of the total import value as compared to less than seven percent in November of 2014.
Source: Wood Resources International LLC
Keep up with log price trends with the NZFFA quarterly market report >>
As FFR is committed to full consultation across the industry on developing the new Harvesting and Logistics Research Programme, this email is a brief update on the development progress to date.
As a result of the priority setting process that NZFFA and other stakeholders were engaged in during Sept/October last year, the forest industry responses were analysed and the high priority projects were determined. These have been summarised in the linked report titled “Priorities for Future Harvesting and Logistics Research”.
Since then a working group of industry people has met in Gisborne and Rotorua in December to discuss these industry priorities, and develop the themes and goals of a proposed new programme.
Please see the linked summary of the proposed new programme “LogPlus – Added Value through Automation”.
Russell Dale and I met with the PGP Programme advisers last Thursday, 21 Jan 2016 to discuss this brief summary and received some positive feedback.
We are now in the process of developing this summary into a formal proposal to the Primary Growth Partnership.
We are targeting to submit the proposal to the PGP Investment Advisory Panel (IAP) on 22 Feb 2016.
Your comment/feedback on this Programme Summary is welcomed as input to the PGP Proposal. Please respond by FRIDAY 5th FEBRUARY 2016.
Keith Raymond
Harvesting Programme Leader
Future Forests Research Ltd
P.O. Box 1127
Rotorua 3040
M +64 27 438 5233
T +64 7 921 7239
E keith.raymond@ffr.co.nz
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Disclaimer: Personal views expressed in this newsletter are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the NZ Farm Forestry Association. |
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