54 | Company supports Kim Newth SWING YARDER & GROUND BASED OPERATION, LAND PREP, ROOT RAKING & FIREWOOD SUPPLIES. 19 Abbotts Hill Road, Abbotsford, DUNEDIN sjonesloggingltd@yahoo.co.nz | 027 858 4791 o Fulton Hogan 03 478 8200 Tony Williamson 027 436 4916 Kevin Walter 027 290 6206 PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH VENTURE FORESTRY LTD David Gale 0274 989 205 Graeme Gale 03 489 7322 Email: heli@heliotago.co.nz Quality Guaranteed Why Wait, Call: Carbon revenue returns are driving ongoing growth in forestry, but it’s important to ensure trees are planted and managed correctly from the start to get the most out of the resource. Forestry and woodlot owners are well-advised to work with a professional regional specialist such as Venture Forestry to achieve their goals. This leading forest management company operates throughout Otago, Southland and the wider South Island, meeting forestry sector needs from initial planning and planting, through to managing trees as they grow, and finally, harvesting and marketing of logs. “We have seen that forestry performs well even on rough land as long as it is planned out properly before planting,” says Venture Forestry Director Mort Shepherd, who grew up on a sheep and beef property in South Otago, studied forestry engineering at university and has more than 25 years’ industry experience in New Zealand, Canada and Southeast Asia. “We would rather be there from the outset to make sure everything is done right. Fifteen years into a forestry project is not the right time to be trying to fix poor initial decisions, such as poor pruning practices.” Mort leads a skilled, hardworking team of seven who share a robust health and safety culture. The company has recently moved from Dunedin to easy-to-find premises just outside Mosgiel, located at the Invermay Agricultural Centre where there is excellent on-site parking. Since 2008, carbon trading has added a significant new income stream to traditional forest investment. Navigating the carbon credit system has many hidden complexities. Professional guidance and advice are the best insurance against potential FORESTRY » Venture Forestry hold-ups and obstacles that can arise. Venture Forestry’s emissions trading expert is sought-after by forest owners seeking guidance on the carbon market. “We are able to show forest and woodlot owners their outlook for carbon over the next 20 to 50 years and that has become a key service for us. We’ve been measuring carbon since 2012 and spend a lot of time walking around forests in Otago and Southland.” That experience brings with it a huge depth of experience on how and where to plant and on commercial forestry species such as Pinus radiata. Pinus attenuata is another popular forestry choice today. This hybrid is often selected as a hardy, quick growing option compared to Douglas fir. Investors are recognising it is a good time to plant. “Four years ago, we were planting 300,000 seedlings a year – now we’re planting 1.4 million seedlings, plus all the blocks are getting bigger as well.” Compared to when Mort started out in forestry, the industry has developed considerably. Larger blocks have also seen a shift to larger harvesting machines and mechanisation. Compliance requirements have increased with the advent of national environmental standards. “People working in forestry today are industry specialists, who are finding rewarding careers in silviculture and harvesting.” Mort observes that a current challenge for the industry, common to many, is attracting enough skilled staff. Freight issues during the pandemic are also disrupting exports and supply chains. Yet the future holds many opportunities too. Growing awareness and availability of engineered wood products as an environmentally sustainable option, for example, builds into a positive picture for quality New Zealand timber. The team getting some planting done. “We would rather be there from the outset to make sure everything is done right. Fifteen years into a forestry project is not the right time to be trying to fix poor initial decisions, such as poor pruning practices.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=