4 June 2013
Scion is holding workshops later this month to demonstrate how the WoodScape model may help forestry and wood processing business owners and investors make decisions around the future of their operations. Workshops will be held in Rotorua, Whangarei, Gisborne, Wellington, Nelson and Dunedin.
The WoodScape study, initiated by the New Zealand Wood Council (Woodco), was conducted by Rotorua’s Crown Research Institute Scion in partnership with FP Innovations (Canada). The study supports Woodco’s strategy to double export earnings from the sector over the next ten years.
The findings from this study show where the industry should increase its focus to realise Woodco’s goal of more than doubling forest and wood product exports to $12 billion by 2022.
Scientists at Scion designed a model to undertake financial analyses of traditional and emerging wood processing technologies for the study. The model is able to highlight the most promising investment options based on metrics such as potential return on capital, job growth and GDP contribution.
The model was used in the WoodScape study to analyse the investment potential of a diverse range of nearly 40 different technologies; both traditional and emerging. They included solid wood products, panel products, pulp and paper, engineered wood products and biofuel plants.
“With the global financial crisis and low housing starts, wood processing in New Zealand has had a difficult time in recent years,” says Warren Parker, Chief Executive of Scion. “On the other hand this study confirms there are a number of promising new processing technologies and products. It shows too, the vital importance of continuous innovation to improve mill productivity and develop products which can realise more value from our forests.”
“WoodScape is a valuable tool for investors. It will help them answer the question – are we heading in the right direction?” says Dr Parker. “And, it will also help us to focus our research to generate more value for wood processors and gain a better understanding of how we can enhance industry value chains from the forest through to customers.
“Our next step is to work with companies to use the WoodScape model to help them understand their individual investment options at specific sites and regions.”
Source: Scion media release
Established plantations of pine, macrocarpa and Douglas-fir over 40 hectares now co-exist with carefully positioned ornamental trees on the long and narrow property running 16 kilometres from the highway to the sea.
Often circling the plantations are lusitanicus and cypress that will remain standing when timber trees are harvested.
Another 30 ha of native bush is protected by QE11 covenant and the couple have fenced from stock about 100 ha in gullies for their personal pleasure.
Charles Wiffen said the trees had been planted at the 1400 ha farm as much for providing a pleasant working landscape as for shelter and shade for stock. He said they had made a point of planting oaks, poplars and cypress for variety.
The Wiffens, who also run a Blenheim vineyard and manage the Charles Wiffen label, have been at Inverness for 48 years with Charles' father first running the farm. Elms, maples and "every oak you could think of" now line the property.
Farm Forestry Association award judge Neil Cullen, Balclutha, said the trees were an example of good land use.
Many of the "awkward" corners and gullies had been planted in small tree blocks, shelter belts and ornamental trees to provide shade and shelter appreciated by stock this dry summer, he said.
"I was impressed with the way they have managed the property as far as land use goes. It's a long, stretched out property 16km to the ocean and although there is only 40 ha of tree blocks in 1400 ha a lot of the property isn't suitable for forestry because of access problems."
Wiffen said he was a farmer first and a forester second, but he had always appreciated trees for the qualities they brought to a farm.
Story by Tim Cronshaw, © Fairfax NZ News. To read the full story, click here.