Sustainability

Safety
Safety – for our staff, contractors and visitors – is a priority for Wenita. We promote best practice in all areas of our operations, from safe harvesting to fire prevention and transport, and work hard to develop a culture of safety and responsibility throughout the organisation. We have developed strict safety guidelines for visitors accessing the forest, and we expect everyone to adhere to these.

Environment
At Wenita, we value the incredible natural environment we are lucky enough to work within, and believe that producing sustainable and renewable products is environmentally important. In doing so, we want to minimise any adverse effects on the immediate environment, and do what we can to promote and protect the many species with which our operations coexist. Wenita has Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification, and has developed environmental policies to guide our practice.

Habitat assessment
Wenita forests were identified as important nesting sites for the New Zealand falcon and fernbird, species identified as having conservation priority. Fernbirds (matata) are famously shy and a treat for those observant enough to spot them, while New Zealand falcons (karearea) never fail to impress those who see them in action. We are committed to locating and protecting their nesting sites where possible, and monitoring the behaviour of these birds.
Hundreds of hectares of wetlands and native bush on Wenita’s estate are protected. Wenita’s indigenous habitat survey identified 1400 hectares of reserve areas, which are now subject to detailed management plans.

Stream health monitoring
Stream health monitoring has been undertaken in 10 major forest catchment streams since 2001. These show the streams to be in a healthy condition forest-wide, with some fluctuations in quality. Further projects aim to understand more about the impact and recovery cycles of rivers where intensive operations are being carried out. This will help with ongoing stream health management.

Site disturbance
While forestry has many beneficial impacts on soil quality, Wenita is concerned to minimise any adverse effects. Using the LIRO procedure for assessing site disturbance, all our contractors are assessed every six months, and have their results compared with one another and against their previous results. This has shown that most (76%) soil disturbance falls into the shallow or light disturbance class.

Community Projects

Otago Youth Adventure Trust
Wenita is pleased to accommodate Berwick Lodge in our Berwick Forest. This lodge provides accommodation and a wide range of outdoor activities including confidence course, tramping, and kayaking, to many different groups of adults and children.

NZ Rally Championships
Each year local and international competitors look forward to testing themselves on challenging stages through Wenita Forests.

Emma Gilmore competing in the Wenita forestry 2011
Photo: © copyright Geoff Ridder

Firewood Donations
Wenita periodically holds open days allowing the public to collect firewood in a safe and supervised environment. Profits have been donated to Otago Rescue Helicopters, Pike River Miners and Otago Rugby Youth Development.

Education
Wenita’s forests are fascinating environments for learners of all ages – whether they are visiting on a school trip or for their postgraduate research projects. University students are regularly employed to gather mid-rotation and pre-harvest inventory information, or for special one-off projects such as stream monitoring, flora and fauna surveys.

Research
The breadth and scope of Wenita’s forests have attracted many researchers wanting to know more about the species that live in this environment. In 2001, a full ornithological survey was carried out, identifying the fernbird and New Zealand falcon as species requiring protection.
Wenita is pleased to work with organisations interested in carrying out research in areas that support our goals for sustainability, efficiency and safety.

 

Sustainable Radiata Pine
Radiata pine is perhaps New Zealand’s best-known and well-used construction timber. The reasons for its popularity are also why it is increasingly recognised by users and specifiers as a responsible and sustainable choice.
It is fast-growing and widely available, alleviating pressure on indigenous, rare and slower-growing forest species. Indeed, radiata pine is particularly well suited to New Zealand conditions, growing faster – and therefore more sustainably – here than almost anywhere else in the world. Because it thrives in temperate climates and on a wide range of sites, it makes an ideal complement to other land uses such as farming.
Radiata pine produces a very even, uniform timber that saws, machines, nails and glues well and accepts a wide variety of paints and treatments. It is suitable for many uses, from pulp and paper products, packaging and plywood veneers to furniture and decorative mouldings. Applied technical processes such as hardening have further extended the range of uses.
Further, forestry in New Zealand significantly absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing an important greenhouse gas. While some carbon is released during harvesting processes, most of the carbon contained within trees is stored for the life of the timber.

High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) areas
Wenita has identified three HCVF areas within its forests.  They are:
Halfway Road native forest reserve, Berwick Forest
Redpath Road Bog, Berwick Forest
Office Creek Seepage, Maungatua block, Berwick Forest
Management plans for the HCVFs are available on request from the Mosgiel office.

Falcon Nest Camera Monitoring
Falcon nest sites were located in Akatore forest from territories known from previous years. Most sites were found around the time of egg laying which enabled the 3 cameras available to be deployed before any predation took place. In previous years some predation of eggs and chicks had been discovered or assumed but locating nests early this season enabled predation to be confirmed. Cameras were located approximately 2-3m from nests as inconspicuously as possible. It was difficult with some sites to position the camera to view into the nest bowl itself, but any animal approaching the nest should be detected. Cameras used were 2 Moultrie and 1 Bushnell game camera which were set to take 3 photos after triggering, day and night. A disadvantage of this type of camera is the delay of 1-2 seconds between the camera being triggered and taking a photo.

 

To date of the 5 nests monitored by cameras:
Nest 1. Female falcon disappeared, later eggs were eaten by a hedgehog and a dog was also detected at the nest.
Nest 2. Eggs eaten, (1 partially) but camera had stopped recording earlier.
Nest 3. Chicks predated by cat
Nest 4. Chick predated. A large unknown animal (possibly pig) detected at night directly in front of camera.
Nest 5. Currently has 1 large chick. Another nest was found empty before a camera could be used.

Cats were regularly seen in the forest and are a known predator of falcon chicks. Hedgehogs have also been recorded eating falcon eggs. The evaluation of the effect of trapping predators near falcon nests should be a priority for the next season, again using cameras wherever possible at falcon nests.

Steve Lawrence, 22nd January 2013