Productivity challenges and opportunities in Southern forests

Transcription

1 4 th Annual GCFF Conference: Productivity challenges and opportunities in Southern forests March 2017, Dunedin The Growing Confidence in Forestry s Future Research (GCFF) programme has reached the halfway mark or mid-rotation. At the outset, it set ambitious targets around raising the productivity of future forests and maximising the benefits from existing forests that will provide the wood sold into the domestic and international markets for the next 20 years at least. This conference will provide updates on key projects that are being undertaken within the overall GCFF programme and the implications for forest managers. Within the GCFF programme, we recognise that a one size fits all approach is not likely to deliver maximum benefit for all forest managers, given the diversity of sites they work with and the range of management objectives. This year s conference focuses on forests in the Otago region of New Zealand, specifically the challenges and opportunities associated with increasing productivity in a sustainable manner in these forests and how the experiences gained there can be applied to other regions. In addition to local speakers, we have two international keynote speakers who will provide perspectives on forest nutrition in the south-eastern United States and wood quality in south-eastern Australia. The 3-day event is aimed at forest managers, researchers, government and council representatives. Day 1 consists of two half-day workshops ( Phenotyping/ LiDAR and Water flows and regulation from planted forests ), Day 2 includes the conference presentations and dinner, and on Day 3 we have a field trip to local forests to discuss some of the key issues related to productivity and sustainability in southern forests. We hope that many of you will be able to join us for the workshops on day 1. Both workshops are intended to provide an opportunity for input into the programme. The workshop on water flows and regulation from planted forests seeks to identify current water yield related issues affecting forestry and will contribute to the development of a plan for water related research needed to address those issues. The LiDAR/Phenotyping workshop will provide practical examples of the use of LiDAR in New Zealand and a forum for discussions. We look forward to welcoming you to Dunedin. Peter Clinton, John Moore and Annette Brockerhoff

2 Registration and costs GCFF workshops (Skinner Annex Building, 361 Great King Street (near Otago Museum), Dunedin) - Tue 28 March, LiDAR / Phenotyping innovation cluster workshop, 10 am 1 pm (open to all, free). - Tue 28 March, Working lunch for workshop participants, 1 2 pm ($30). - Tue 28 March, Water flows and regulation from planted forests workshop, 2 5 pm (open to all stakeholders, free). GCFF conference (Otago Museum, Dunedin) - Wed 29 March, Conference presentations ($90), 9 am - 4:40 pm - Wed 29 March, Dinner ($65), 6.30 pm. - Thu 30 March, Field trip including transport and lunch ($65), 7:15 am 3:30 pm. Please note that online registration for all events is essential and due by Mon 20 th March and can be found at The GCFF website will also have the updated agenda and the registration link available at Accommodation Dunedin has a range of good accommodation options to choose from with many in walking distance from the Otago Museum. Enquiries Please contact Peter Clinton (peter.clinton@scionresearch.com) for conference programme enquiries and Mary-Anne Gloyne (mary-anne.gloyne@scionresearch.com, ) for logistical conference enquiries. Page 2 of 6

3 Day 1. Workshops Tue 28 March 10 am 1 pm am Workshop: LIDAR/ Phenotyping Venue: Skinner Annex Building, 361 Great King Street (near Otago Museum) Organiser: Mike Watt Analysis of stem data from the ZEB1 hand-held scanner Sentinel2 Imagery Delivery Platform prototype demonstration and potential use cases. Presenter Dave Pont, Samuel Damesin, am Morning Tea Detection of wilding pines using remote sensed data Hydrological Feature Extraction from LiDAR-based DEMs Phenotyping platform progress to date Jonathan Dash, (by video conference) Grant Pearse, (by video conference) Jonathan Dash, (by video conference) General discussion/questions Mike Watt 1-2 pm Lunch (for workshop 1 & 2 participants) Page 3 of 6

4 Tue 28 March 2-5 pm Workshop: Water flows and regulation from planted forests Venue: Skinner Annex Building, 361 Great King Street (near Otago Museum) Organiser: Tim Payn, Presenter Water yield and hydrology is a rapidly emerging issue for NZ s planted forest sector. There is a dynamic political landscape out there - for example; Water Shortages and Allocation issues exist and will increase; Climate Change is leading to more extreme weather events and droughts (different seasonality, higher rainfall in the west, lower in the east); Regional plans are starting to regulate land use with regards water e.g. sensitive catchments in Canterbury; Agriculture is intensifying and the Government is investing $400m in irrigation support; New Zealand s climate response to Paris is recommending significant new tree planting; National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is requiring new limits which will affect the land use pattern in catchments with implications for forestry and water supply; Energy Supply planning hydro lake and dam infrastructure; Afforestation on eroding hill country is encouraged to minimise erosion risk e.g. Manawatu with potential impacts on water. Very little research has been done in New Zealand on this topic since the 1980s. This workshop seeks to identify current water yield related issues affecting forestry and will contribute to the development of a plan for water related research needed to address those issues. 2 pm Welcome/Introduction Tim Payn, 2.10 pm 2.25 Water yield from forested catchments what we know, what we don t know, and potential challenges Sources & Flows - Our Land & Water National Science Challenge Dean Meason, MS Srinivasan and Richard Muirhead, Our Land & Water National Science Challenge 2.40 An industry perspective on water flows and regulation Steve Chandler, Rayonier 2.55 Questions to the speakers pm Afternoon Tea 3.20 pm Break into groups to discuss key questions. 1: What are the key issues and constraints facing the forestry industry with regard to a) water yield within forests and b) water yield in the wider landscape? 2. What are the key knowledge gaps in relation to understanding the effects of planted forests on water yields? 4 pm Group s report back pm General discussion and wrap-up Page 4 of 6

5 Day 2. GCFF conference presentations & dinner Venue: Otago Museum Wed 29 March Titles Presenter 8.30 am Registration and Coffee Welcome and Introduction Peter Clinton, Forest Growers Levy Trust research update Russell Dale, FOA Keynote - Forest fertilization: opportunities, efficiencies, and ecosystem responses Session 1 Brian Strahm, Virginia Tech, US Chair: John Moore Advances in nutrition management of radiata pine Graham Coker, Productivity gains from nursery research Simeon Smaill, Morning tea Keynote Tools and models for assessing wood quality in Australian radiata pine Understanding the cambium wood forming machine towards gains in commercial forestry Geoff Downes, Forest Quality Pty, AU Bernadette Nanayakkara, Phenotyping individual trees to improve future forests Dave Pont, pm Lunch Session Keynote: Enhancing productivity in southern forests, challenges, opportunities and research needs Optimisation of final crop stocking to maximise volume and value on different site types Regional differences in maximum carrying capacity of sites the need for site-specific silviculture Growing higher value pruned stands what can we learn from long-term trials Chair: Peter Clinton Peter Oliver, City Forests Mike Watt, Yue Lin, John Moore, Stimulating forest productivity and resilience Simeon Smaill, Afternoon tea Page 5 of 6

6 Session Keynote Ecosystem genomics what is it and what can we learn from other sectors? Chair: Tim Payn Steve A Wakelin, Erosion and debris flow mapping, recording and mitigation Tim Payn, / Stefanie Lumnitz Looking forward planning for future research programmes Peter Clinton Wrap up Russell Dale, FOA 7 pm 11 pm Conference Dinner. Gary Wilson, Otago University and NZ Antarctica Research Institute (NZARI) Day 3. GCFF Conference Field Trip Thu 30 March 7.15 am 7.30 am Bus departs Field Trip to Ross Creek, Berwick Forest, Sinclair wetlands Meet at the bus stop on Albany Street across the reserve in front of the Otago Museum. Please bring High-Viz vest, helmet, and solid walking shoes/boots and be prepared for all weather conditions. A limited number of vest and helmets will be provided. Ross Creek Introduction to the reserve and public use Estate-level ecosystem services assessment Douglas-fir stand Depart for Berwick Forest Presenters Peter Oliver; J McEwan, Wenita Forest Products Morning tea Increasing productivity through stand density management Long-term site productivity trial NuBalM Depart Berwick Forest James McEwan John Moore Simeon Smaill Peter Beets 12:00 pm Lunch stop at Sinclair Wetland 12:45 pm Depart Sinclair Wetland Special purpose breeds trial (FR172/5) in Takitoa Forest J Moore, Peter Oliver Depart Takitoa Forest 2:30 pm Drop off at Dunedin Airport 3:30 pm Arrive back at the Otago Museum Page 6 of 6