Forest Talk

New rules limiting farm to forestry conversions under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are set to have dire consequences for forest growers in New Zealand and the country’s ability to meet its climate change targets, says the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA).

Announced last week by Forestry Minister Todd McClay, the new rules will see a moratorium placed on exotic forestry registrations for Land Use Classifications (LUC) 1 to 5 and an an..... more

A carbon tax is the most effective way for New Zealand to cut emissions while supporting a stable economy, according to a recent University of Auckland study.



The study compares the effects of three environmental policies on New Zealand’s economy - carbon taxes, emissions trading schemes and emission intensity targets. It also explores environmental impacts on the economy by factoring in how pollution spreads across regions.



The researchers behind the pr..... more

Consultation on operational details to implement New Zealand’s legal harvest assurance system to combat trade in illegally harvested timber, began last month, says Forestry Minister, Todd McClay.

“The system will limit the risk of importing illegally harvested timber and provide the international market with confidence in New Zealand’s timber and timber products,” Mr McClay says.

“As markets increasingly demand verifiable assurances, this syste..... more

Ensuring consistent use of protective gear is crucial for worker safety. According to Safetree a significant portion of work-related injuries and fatalities could be prevented with proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).  

Hazards faced in the forestry industry can result from movement of trees and machinery, chainsaw use, varying terrain and unstable underfoot conditions, and adverse weather conditions and high winds among others. Co..... more

Some 70% of businesses have experienced the effects of distracted driving incidents, with 68% of survey respondents identifying mobile phone use as the primary cause of these distractions, according to a recent study by connected mobility platform Teletrac Navman.

Distracted driving remains a pressing issue for businesses. As the reliance on mobile devices grows, so does the potential for distraction behind the wheel. Nearly 49% of survey respondents..... more

Quebec-based logging contractor, Steeve Ladrie’s, business approach is all about the selection of the right equipment based on meeting the needs of his very productive harvesting teams.

His selection of harvesting equipment is based on having a diverse set of machines assigned to his two separate teams, so that each team can efficiently - and productively - handle the diverse forest stand types assigned to them.

Mr Ladrie established Les Chanti..... more