05 Jan 2009
A new collaborative research programme led by scientists at Crown Research Institute Scion could impact everything from the food we eat, to the things we make, and the medical diagnoses we undergo, by better managing genetic information. The project will draw on New Zealand’s most highly skilled gene mapping statisticians and geneticists from eight universities, CRIs and private companies.
Forestry News
Speed traps on BC forestry roads
12 Jan 2009
The government of British Columbia is training people to use radar guns on forestry roads and issue tickets -- a move which has the support of log truckers.California carbon registry strengthened
02 Feb 2009
The California Climate Change Action Registry (CCAR) is revising the protocols of its forest project that has been operating successfully since 2004.EU call to action leaves trees in limbo
02 Feb 2009
The European Commission has called for an OECD-wide carbon market by 2015 and ratcheted up calls for developing countries to keep their own emissions in check, but the question of whether offsets can be used to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation won't be answered until the rest of the world makes up its mind.Sustainable Business Council supports RMA reforms
04 Feb 2009
Reform of the resource management law will save ratepayers and businesses millions – and could stimulate hundreds of millions in new economic activity.National hits 'go' with RMA reform
04 Feb 2009
The government is embarking on major changes to the Resource Management Act that environment minister Nick Smith says will simplify and streamline processes without compromising environmental protections. The changes are largely in line with the government's pre-election processes.Big drop in sawn lumber production
05 Feb 2009
Latest MAF statistics show a dramatic decline in sawn timber production in the September quarter of 2008. This follows several years in which New Zealand log and sawn timber production figures have been remarkably stable.Aussies predict modest forest gains from carbon price
10 Feb 2009
The Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council, A3P, has debunked a report that concluded that a carbon price incentive would result in large areas of agricultural land being reforested. They say foresters are hopeful a carbon price will result in some plantation expansion, but predict this will be in the order of tens of thousands, not hundreds of thousands, of hectares a year.Farmer paid to convert Taupo farm to forest
12 Feb 2009
The Lake Taupo Protection Trust announced today an agreement that will achieve the conversion of over 930 ha of farmland into forestry.