28 FEATURE SUPPLEMENT
Thursday, August 18, 2022 Wairarapa Times-Age
FEATURE SUPPLEMENT 29
www.age.co.nz Thursday, August 18, 2022
FORESTRY IN WAIRARAPA BIOFUELS REPLACING FOSSIL FUELS - is forestry ready for this huge emerging market? The announcement that Fonterra is taking another step in its transition to low carbon production with replacement of a coal boiler at its Waitoa site in the Waikato with a 30 MW wood biomass boiler builds on the trend of food processors to adopt bioenergy solutions says the Bioenergy Association. Brian Cox, executive o˜ cer of the Bioenergy Association said that “the use of renewable biomass to replace coal to produce heat arises because of the increased use of forest residues, instead of leaving the residues in the forest to rot. In this investment by Fonterra the supply of biomass from residues as fuel has been facilitated with the entry of Wood Energy New Zealand, as an accredited wood fuel supplier, into the North Island to supply the fuel to Fonterra. Mr Cox said that “With Fonterra making this fourth transition from fossil to biomass fuel for producing heat at its milk processing facilities, they are
providing signiÿ cant leadership and demonstration on how easy it is to move from coal to biomass fuels. Such investments however need to be well planned and undertaken in partnership with their wood fuel suppliers. The transitions can’t be done overnight which demonstrates that reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions will take time.” Mr Cox said that “at the Residues2Revenues 2022 event last week it was outlined that we have the potential for adequate biomass to be available for transitioning from fossil fuels, but heat users and biomass fuel suppliers need to talk together so that each has good information on the demand and supply of bioenergy. The partnership between Fonterra and their fuel supplier, Wood Energy New Zealand, is a good example of that in action.” Residues2Revenues 2022 Conference in Rotorua saw an amazing turnout of well over 350 delegates. This was a record attendance and re˛ ects the growing recognition amongst forest owners and those
There is a lack of understanding of what biodiversity is in a land management sense, and how it rates in importance for either potential proÿ ts or other beneÿ ts.
involved in log harvesting and transport that the demand for alternatives to fossil fuels has the potential to transform the forestry sector. Biofuels, bioenergy and a range of renewable bioproducts increasingly are being added to the industry’s more traditional wood products. The economics of better-utilising forest residues, bin wood, o˝ cuts left on landings, short length or malformed logs that won’t meet MDF, pulp-mill or chip
export log speciÿ cations and sawmill residues are ÿ nally starting to stack up.
with major announcements on new investments being made now almost every month.
Low emissions energy to replace fossil fuels with electricity or solid biofuels is top of the Government’s agenda. Large industrial-scale heat and energy users throughout the country are ÿ rmly following the Government’s lead. The move to transition from fossil fuels is already well underway. Signiÿ cant conversions have been made across the country
This changing landscape means that forest owners, those involved in logging operations and those with surplus waste from sawmilling and wood manufacturing operations are looking at satisfying this current and projected future demand. Is the forestry sector in a position to supply? Source FridayO˝ cuts.com
OFFICE 06 377 4443 GUY FARMAN 0274 488 810 EMAIL Guy@�f.co.nz WEBSITE www.FTF.co.nz
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What is biodiversity and who cares?
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Some landowners rate it highly but for di˝ erent reasons, and we seem to have no common understanding of why it matters or how to achieve it in New Zealand under our di˝ ering land uses. Biodiversity is just a fancy term for variety. And the more variety we have in plants and animal species, then the better o˝ we are. These ecosystems ensure natural sustainability for all life forms. This diversity of systems gives all land users more ˛ exibility and adaptive responses to challenges such as climate
change, or disease, or where markets have suddenly changed. Forest ecosystems are worth far more than just the value of their wood. Their biodiversity and forest ecosystems are increasingly recognised in New Zealand for providing services that include climate change mitigation, habitats for native species, recreation, improved water quality, avoided sedimentation and ˛ ood control. Pine forests are measured with far more biodiversity than either pasture or horticultural land with the added beneÿ t of doing it fast. Birds do not much care what habitat you provide but would prefer a closed canopy forest in 15 years rather than 50, and this is how long many planted natives will take to catch up with pine, with the issue of no timber crop at the end.
Most forest owners in New Zealand are registered and must comply with the rules governing the FSC system. (Forest Stewardship Council) This rigorous international organization gives our New Zealand timber an endorsement that it is produced from forests meeting many measured criteria, and biodiversity levels
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is one of them. To meet FSC standards there are regular audits, and most forestry companies now hire dedicated sta˝ to keep track of the huge number of requirements for this process in order to keep their accreditation as many markets now demand this overseas. For forestry, biodiversity is not just a “nice to have”, it’s
a necessity to meet market requirements and a longstudied mechanism in pine forests that have been around in New Zealand for nearly 180 years, so we care very much as this measurable can mean the stamp of approval for our timber and hence, more proÿ t, at the top of the list of beneÿ ts that production forests will leave long-term for the landscape.
FOREST & WOODLOT OWNERS… Want to maximise the return for your trees? Talk to us first for a no obligation discussion and assessment of your trees.
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