Did you know that
New Zealand's forest industry
supplies 1.1% of world and 8.8% of Asia Pacific's forest products trade.
All from just 0.05% of the world's forest resource and an annual harvest
area equivalent to 0.0009% of global forest cover.
The reason? Highly
productive, sustainably managed plantation forests.
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New Zealand Land
Use
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New Zealand contains 17.8% of
the fast growing plantation forests worldwide (second to Brazil with 23.4%)
New Zealand contains 34% of
the global radiata plantation forests (second to Chile with 35%)
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Forestry on the East
Coast of New Zealand
The region offers one of the largest land
banks in New Zealand that is suitable for forestry. Large scale
harvesting only commenced on the East Coast in 1991. Currently, the
planted production area is 74,000 hectares, of which just under 60% is
less than 10 years old and 90% is less than 20 years. A government
scheme, the East Coast Forestry Project, is in place to promote
forestation of a further 200,000 hectares of land that is prone to
erosion in the East Cape region.
Wood densities are medium in general on
the East Coast and progressively higher in the north, where Mangaiti,
Kiteroa & Ngatoka forests are located which is an important factor
contributing to the value of timber.
The region's harvests are predicted to
increase by 1.3 million cubic metres per annum by 2005, offering major
opportunities for development of processing and manufacturing plants,
export and domestic consumption.
Where the
Plantation Forests Are
Tokomaru Bay, on the eastern side of the
East Cape boasts a warm, sunny climate with annual rainfall of 1250mm on
the coast and 4000mm inland. These conditions produce some of the
fastest growing pine forests in the country and it is here that
Trustwood's forestry estate is located. Approximately 87 kms north of
the forestry port of Gisborne, the area is also well sited for the
harvesting and transporting of the mature crop with moderate contours
that will assist harvesting and allow easy egress to and from major
roads. Being predominantly well established pasture, a faster growth
rate is achieved compared to the poorer mountainous terrain
traditionally used for plantation forests.
Of particular interest to Trustwood is a feasibility
study currently being undertaken with respect to the future
re-development of Tolaga Bay as a deep water port. Tolaga Bay,
situated midway between Trustwood's forest estate and the port of
Gisborne, is a historically significant port that was prominent during
the agricultural boom on the East Coast during the 1930's and
40's. Re commissioning of this port would reduce road cartage by
some 40kms representing a significant cost benefit and ultimately
reflecting in an increased rate of return.
Export
Destinations of Forestry Products
Global View
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The international wood harvest
is substantial and exceeds 3.4 billion cubic metres annually
Pacific Asia is the main world
market for softwood - this region is currently responsible for 30% of
the world GDP and is projected to top 50% of the world GDP by the year
2015.
Population growth alone is
increasing demand for wood by 77 million cubic metres per year, which is
equivalent to the total yearly harvest of British Columbia (New
Zealand's current annual harvest is approximately 15 million cubic
metres)
Plantation forests currently
account for only 4.74% of the international productive forest base
Wood consumption increases
with a country's increase in economic and social development
China has a billion people and
is just emerging from a subsistence economy into an economy of
disposable income. Yet China was deforested centuries ago and needs what
little forest it still has to prevent erosion and protect the climate.
World trade in forest products
represents 13.6% of world consumption
Chile accounts for 1.1% of
wood trade, Russia 2.2%, Sweden 8.2% and Canada 18.8%.
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