54 | FORESTRY Wenita Forest Products T T Russell Fredric Setting the record straight on forestry Wenita also manages approximately 12,000 hectares for other forest owners in Otago and Southland. “It’s a fallacy to say that forestry is chasing sheep and beef farmers off the land and we’re blanketing the country in pine forest.” Wenita Forest Products chief executive David Cormack wants to counter the perception of those that see forestry as the bad boy on the primary industry block. “It’s a fallacy to say that forestry is chasing sheep and beef farmers off the land and we’re blanketing the country in pine forest,” David says. He acknowledges the plight of sheep farmers in recent years wanting to sell, facilitate succession, or retire in the face of poor meat and wool returns, and who have made the decision to sell to forestry entities. “But no one has held a gun to their heads and they’ve made those decisions on their own,” David says. He pushes back on any perception there is widespread planting of forestry for ‘carbon farming’ on productive farmland, related to the Emissions Trading Scheme “Firstly, it’s good to put some numbers around land users. Commercial forestry in New Zealand takes up about 7% of the land area; sheep and beef takes up 30%, and dairy takes up 10%. “We’re still a reasonably minor land occupier compared to sheep and beef.” It is difficult to know the intentions of landowners and whether a particular forestry block was planted purely for carbon credits, David says. “I think, generally, if the forests are well located to either domestic wood processing or export ports it’s more likely that they are a dual-purpose forest. The forest owners will be managing for carbon, but they will also be intending to harvest it and then replant again.” In the early 2000s, commercial forestry actually occupied more land throughout New Zealand than it does now, he says. “There was quite a bit of deforestation and conversion from forests to dairy farms, and a lot of forestry land was lost to dairy conversions. We’re only just getting back to almost the same level in terms of land area. “That whole idea that forestry is gradually planting more and more [productive farm] land, it just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.” Wenita has a three-decade track record of supplying forest products to local and international markets, and is the largest producer of forest products in Otago. Headquartered in Mosgiel, it has three main forests, located at Mt Allan, Berwick, and Otago Coast, covering an area of around 30,000 hectares of sustainably managed forests, using best-practice management across all aspects of its operation. Wenita also manages approximately 12,000 hectares for other forest owners in Otago and Southland. “We are certainly proud to contribute to the Otago community,” David says. “We are a big employer directly and indirectly, and we make a significant contribution to the wider Otago/Southland economy, as well with all the spending by the various businesses that are associated with us. “We are dedicated to looking after the environment we work in, and are proud to share it with the local community.” The company has been Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified since 2001. One of the prerequisites for this certification is at least 10% of the land managed must be in ecological conservation areas. Consequently, Wenita has more than 3000 hectares of indigenous vegetation it manages providing habitats for native fish, birds and plants. “It’s a little-known fact about commercial forestry that we do manage quite significant areas of native vegetation for those purposes.” The business is supported by a skilled team of 14 staff and more than 150 contractors managing the forest estate with certified local contractors, who plant, prune, measure, harvest and transport Wenita’s trees and logs. David emphasises the forestry industry does not want to “make an enemy of our primary sector colleagues”. “We think forestry and farming can work well together, and we are seeing more and more farmers plant parts of their property in trees. It makes sense for them. “It’s income diversification, increases biodiversity and, I think, it makes the farms look more attractive.” Wenita’s forests have considerable amenity and recreational value, including for hikers, bikers, horse riders and hunters, with access available by applying for a permit online, David says. “We do encourage people to get out and to responsibly enjoy our forests.” The Government has introduced policy changes intended to limit how much farmland is converted to exotic forest and registered in the ETS with the intention of preserving productive land for agricultural use. The bill proposes a commencement date of October 31, 2025. 03 482 1755 info@orokonui.nz www.orokonui.nz Host your next meeting, workshop, or social function at Orokonui to help us help wildlife thrive. Wenita Forest Products Ltd
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