Value of mixing species

JOBS ARE OUT THERE: Unemployment is down and there are plenty of jobs available, particularly in the forestry and horticulture industries in the Gisborne district. Gisborne Chamber of Commerce chief executive Terry Sheldrake says business confidence grew throughout 2018 and would continue this year. File picture

THE Gisborne-East Coast branch of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association believes a field day tomorrow will benefit the whole commercial forestry industry when it comes to the right tree in the right place on East Coast steep hill country.

The association has organised a field day on David Clark’s property on Waingake Road at Manutuke, where Mr Clark has grown mixed species of trees since the mid-1990s.

“All forest management companies, the Ministry of Primary Industries, council soil conservators, forest owners and land managers will benefit by seeing how David’s mixed species trees are going,” said farm forestry branch chairman Nick Seymour.

“There is a need to change some of our land use practices, because land management is as important as production.”

Mr Seymour said the impact of post-harvest pinus radiata residue from steep hill country on downstream populations was demonstrated clearly in the Queen’s Birthday weekend high rainfall event.

“There has been a flood of information appearing from MPI, Landcare Research, forest owners and Farm Forestry since the events around Tolaga Bay.

“There is a need to gather all that practical and theoretical information, form some tangible guidelines and put them into practice.

“But who is going to have the credibility to do that? The mandarins behind closed doors, highly paid bureaucrats — or farmers and foresters with practical experience?”

Mr Seymour said time was of the essence.

“The planting season is now.

“Another year, and every year we waste the chances increase that another high rainfall event will happen.”

• The field day on David Clark’s property runs from 1.30pm tomorrow. It will be signposted.