Time to stand back and refresh the vision

摘要

As the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) marks its golden jubilee, membership is down and forestry plantings have plummeted to a 50-year low. A depressing scenario but the custom at significant anniversaries is to recall the vision and achievements have shaped the preceding years. AS TO WHAT IS NZFFA'S 'vision' there are various interpretations but this is my take: The integration of forestry and farming as complementary land uses in a single operation. This can mean forestry as a large-scale land use, typically tens of hectares, on poorer, low pastoral productivity and more erosion prone land, with forestry often fulfilling a production/protection role. It can also mean smaller plantations of the more demanding boutique species on better sites and the use of trees in other roles, in particular shelter. The NZFFA also caters for many small foresters, or large foresters with small forests lots, who are not involved in farming.