68 | FORESTRY Saathof Forestry Services T T Karen Phelps Firm expanding on forestry core DGL is a well-established forest harvesting company based in Napier employing 120 staff working throughout Hawkes Bay. MODERN FOREST HARVESTING PROCESSES AND TECHNIQUES 06 834 4204 dgl@dglogging.nz www.dglogging.nz “Our approach is built around tailoring management to each property with a strong emphasis on long-term land stewardship and maximising returns for forest owners.” Saathof Forestry & Civil is strengthening its presence with the addition of a civil engineering service, building on its established forestry operations. “We’ve always been involved in forestry roading and harvest planning so the crossover into civil was a very organic step for us” says David Saathof. “It means we can deliver a more complete service from the forest floor right through to the infrastructure that supports it.” The civil division is led by David’s brother Jake who joined the family business last year as a chartered civil and environmental engineer. He brings 15 years of experience in forestry, land development, roading design and public infrastructure projects. Jake works alongside forestry operations to integrate road, stream crossing and bulk earthworks design into harvest planning, ensuring infrastructure is constructed right the first time. The civil arm also delivers project and contract management, flood modelling for bridges and culverts, stormwater design and road and pavement design for residential, commercial and rural developments. Alongside its expanding civil capability, Saathof Forestry & Civil continues to focus on its core forestry services, which include forest establishment, silviculture, harvesting and log marketing. The business also provides harvest planning and engineering, forestry consultation and investment advice, carbon forestry services under the Emissions Trading Scheme and environmental and health and safety management across all operations. “Our approach is built around tailoring management to each property with a strong emphasis on long-term land stewardship and maximising returns for forest owners. “We also provide due diligence for land acquisition, helping clients assess the suitability and future potential of forestry investments,” says David. key point of difference for the business is its family ownership, which David says shapes both its culture and client relationships. “Being family owned changes everything in terms of accountability and approach,” says David. “There is no separation between ownership and delivery. The buck stops with us, so every decision is personal and every project matters.” The wider Saathof family plays a central role in the business. David’s father Ed brings more than 40 years of forestry experience having worked across establishment, silviculture, harvesting and large-scale forest management for major forestry companies before founding Saathof Forestry Services. He now continues to work within the business, contributing extensive operational knowledge and long-term industry perspective. David, who holds a Bachelor of Forestry Science with first class honours, leads harvesting operations and forestry consultancy work. David says the growth of Saathof Forestry & Civil has been driven largely by referrals and long-term client relationships, particularly among landowners seeking integrated forestry and infrastructure solutions. We’re a small team but that’s deliberate. It means clients deal directly with the people making the decisions. There’s continuity, trust and a level of care that comes from working as a family and that results in a service our clients have come to rely on and are happy to tell others about.” David says the company’s boutique approach is central to its identity focusing on long-term client relationships rather than high-volume contracting. “We are not a faceless operation. We know our clients, we know their land and we are invested in getting the best outcome for them,” says David.
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