Greg Steward — Native Timber
Room 2, Saturday 8:30am
Greg is one of a handful of scientists at Ensis (was FRI) still keeping the commercial native timber option alive. Recent studies have shown that contrary to popular belief, commercially viable timber in an economic time span can be obtained from native species if good management practices are followed.
There were many important points noted, such as keeping a paper trail from the outset to show that your crop was planted specifically for timber - or else risk having it confiscated for conservation before you can harvest the spectacular results of your labours.
This stimulating outlook and the examples given provided elatingly optimistic news for timber growing enthusiasts, long numbed from decades of economist negativism for slow, low forestry returns. Greg's presentation and the exciting prospects for managed native timber were received with great enthusiasm and acclaim!
A bus tour in the afternoon took us to see young native timber growing in various shelter crop scenarios -
Whitecliff Native timber trial
In 1992 the one-hectare reserve had been divided up into Manuka, Kanuka, Tagasaste & Ake ake nurse crop areas at 2x2m planting spacing and then Totara, Kauri, Rimu, Pururi and Kahikatea interplanted when the nurse crop had established.
Varying management styles have produced a wide growth response. It was a unique opportunity to see the various "crop and shelter" options applied in areas side by side for comparison.
Trivial? If you are lucky. Years later in your tree cropping toils, you will either be very glad you did, or wish you had, studied and understood these simple basic scenarios.
References
www.ensisjv.com CSIRO and SCION, science and forest
Research looks at native trees and carbon emissions