19 May 2008
AN environmentalist with one of New Zealand’s biggest forest management companies has been named Forester of the Year by the NZ Institute of Forestry Inc (NZIF).
Christopher (Kit) Richards, environmental manager with PF Olsen Ltd in Rotorua, has been recognised for his leadership and excellence in forestry and his commitment and contribution to the profession.
Richards has made significant contributions to the sustainable management of indigenous forests, development of the Environmental Code of Practice, leading edge work with environmental management systems, and national initiatives on FSC in general.
The award was presented at the NZIF conference dinner in Palmerston North on 17 May.
John Key Needs to Come Clean on Trees
Forest owners in New Zealand say National Party leader John Key needs to clarify what will happen to forestry if the legislation on a proposed emission trading scheme gets delayed until 2009.
Key was reported at the weekend as saying National would not support the emission Bill in parliament unless it met six key principles. This, he said, would be a small price to pay for New Zealand getting the best ETS possible.
NZ Forest Owners Association president Peter Berg said the proposed scheme had already had a hugely disruptive effect on forestry and a lack of clarity and further legislative delays would not be helpful.
“Forest owners are very unhappy with the Labor Government’s emission trading scheme as it stands,” he said.
“The one industry that actually absorbs carbon from the atmosphere is being forced to meet all the costs of its emissions – real and imaginary – from day one. In contrast, the deadlines for emitting industries are being constantly delayed.”
Berg said National was aware that Labor’s policies were inequitable and distortionary and 12 months ago, in its Blue-Green Vision, promised to do away with the new deforestation tax.
“It is therefore of concern to us that Mr Key does not mention forestry in his six key principles and from statements made earlier this year appears to have backed away from his promise to do away with the new tax,” Berg said.
Forest owners entered the ETS on 1 January this year – the only sector to do so. However, the legislation for the scheme is still with a select committee and with National no longer giving its support, the scheme may not become a legal reality for a year or more.
“The principles that Mr Key has come up with are sound enough, but if putting them in place results in lengthy delays in both legislation and in other industries coming into the scheme, then the 1 January starting date for forestry will become untenable,” Berg said.
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