Environmental Update

February 2003

Environmental Audit

An ISO 14001 Surveillance Audit was carried out on the 17th of February, with no CAR's being issued. Our certification will therefore continue. The auditor started the day by assessing Wenita's Environmental Management System and concluded the audit with a trip to upper Berwick to observe a range of forest operations.

Training Database

Wenita now has a detailed database of all employees and contractor's training records. This has been compiled from the Forest Industries Training's database and from our contractors internal databases. Having access to this information will enable us to more accurately assess our training needs and ensure training is carried out in a timely manner.

EMS Activity Report

Internal Audits:

Eight internal audits have been completed since the last update, including our first "Combined Operations Audit". The Combined Operations Audit is conducted at the landscape level to examine the entire cycle of harvest an subsequent re-establishment. It is intended to examine the process as a whole rather than as a set of unconnected activities. Representatives from all operations participated in the audit, and recommendations will be used to improve future operations at a planning level.

Environmental Policy Statement

Wenita is committed to being recognised as a well-managed, environmentally responsible plantation forest owner and producer of wood-based products. Underpinning that objective is a commitment to :–

  • Sustainable forest management, through;
    • providing a save and healthy working environment
    • managing and controlling the environmental and social effects of its operations
    • compliance with international, national and local statutory requirements and industry best-practice standards including:
      • the ISO14001 programme
      • the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Principles and Criteria
    • consulting with Ngai Tahu and other affected stakeholders
    • continuing employee and contractor training
    • the prevention and control of pollution, fire, pests and diseases
  • the protection of cultural and historical sites, and areas of significant indigenous habitat.
  • A process of continual improvement including an annual review of the adequacy and completeness of its environmental management system, its policy statements, targets and objectives.

Endangered Species

Adult female and immature male NZ falcon

NZ Falcon

An incident concerning the management of a falcon nest at Hawkers Dam has occurred. Trees were felled in the proximity of the nest site during a recent harvest operation. Our management plan for falcon requires that the Ornithological Society shall be consulted before disturbing a falcon nesting site. On this occasion no consultation occurred, given the time lag between planning and harvesting. Peter Schweigman (Ornithological Society) in his survey observed that the falcons were not nesting there this season.

In order to ensure that this does not happen again, we have reviewed our planning procedures and embarked on a training exercise for staff and contractors so that all falcon sightings are recorded in GIS to improve our endangered species database.
Falcon vs Hawk comparison

FALCON ARE ENDANGERED PLEASE RECORD SIGHTINGS

  • Falcon are often confused with the commonly seen Hawk (Australasian Harrier)
  • A Falcon is 1/2 the size of a hawk
  • A Falcon flies fast with rapid wingbeats. The Hawk has a slow flight often with glides
  • A Falcon is a very fast hunter, the Hawk is slow
  • Falcon "dive bomb" people during nesting (Oct - Nov) if they are close to their nests


Environmental Case Law

Discharge of Contaminants

A cartage and logging contractor was charged with an offence related to the discharge of sediment onto land which resulted in the contaminant entering a stream.

The Company had been cutting and hauling logs along a road cut through the forest to the public road. The road was in poor condition and mud-containing sediment had entered various stream beds which the road crossed, causing heavy sedimentation to flow into the stream.

The Court held that the Company, should have experienced enough to be aware of the likelihood that problems would occur in times of substantial rainfall. Poor maintenance was also found to have increased the sediment load. A fine of $3,015 was imposed.

Staff Changes:

Recently our EMS Co-ordinator Wayne Lindsay has moved on. Wayne remains with the Company, however, and is now managing the Rosebank Sawmill in Balclutha.

Replacing Wayne, Stephanie Enright has recently joined the Company as the EMS Co-ordinator. Stephanie has five years experience in New Zealand forestry and backs up this practical experience with a Bachelor of Forestry Science and a Master of Science in Environmental Science.

Stephanie and Wayne will continue to work closely together to effect a smooth transition and ensure the ongoing environmental management of Wenita's operations.

Fire Danger

Recent wet weather has done little to ease the rising fire danger affecting all of our Forests. Weather trends for March, April and May this year are likely to continue to be dry, with drought affected regions of New Zealand unlikely to get any significant rainfall during early Autumn.

Workers in our forest and members of the public need to continue to be vigilant. Remember to report any smoke or fire directly to 111.