2009 Forester Of The Year

Media Release

For Immediate Distribution
21 June 2009

NZ Institute Of Forestry Announces The 2009 Forester Of The Year

The New Zealand Institute of Forestry Inc (NZIF) Forester of the Year Award for 2009 was presented jointly to George Asher of Turangi and Dr David Bergin of Rotorua at the Institute’s annual conference in Nelson earlier this month.

In announcing the awards, Dr Andrew McEwen, President of the Institute, said “George Asher has guided the Lake Taupo and Rotoaira Forest Trusts from passive landlord to active forest manager”. Mr Asher has played a key role in the central North Island treaty settlement and in guiding the objectives of the new CNI entity to one of maintaining a large forestry enterprise, possibly even a large integrated forestry entity – this in the face of general trends amongst forestry companies towards disaggregation and exit from vertical integration. In doing this he has built on Maori tradition and features of Maori land ownership to develop a commercial enterprise capable of operating in the 21st century. Mr Asher participates regularly in international negotiations (e.g. FSC) bringing a commercial indigenous New Zealand view into debates where indigenous rights are often treated very differently. “The award to George also recognises the increasing participation of Maori in commercial forestry and the opportunities which arise from having traditional Maori values accommodated in commercial forestry”, said Dr McEwen.

“David Bergin also operates in an indigenous New Zealand environment. In his case he has focussed on research and promotion of indigenous species and particularly the establishment of plantations of such species for commercial use and for restoration”, said Dr McEwen. Dr Bergin has been a senior scientist at Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd.) for almost 30 years and has continued to succeed in a scientific environment where funding is difficult to obtain. He is an important contributor to Tane’s Tree Trust and is an enthusiastic contributor and passionate advocate at workshops, hearings and meetings of a range of organisations. David has produced a number of very important publications in his field. Dr McEwen noted that “the award to David recognises the importance of New Zealand’s native tree species and their potential role in a commercial environment”.

“I am delighted that the Institute has been able to recognize the achievements of these two outstanding members” said Dr McEwen. “The joint award demonstrates that NZ forestry and particularly the NZ Institute of Forestry are not just about plantations of radiata pine forest and their impact on climate change. As the contributions of the two 2009 NZIF Foresters of the Year show, forests and the professionals in forestry make very significant contributions to New Zealand’s economy, environment and society.”

The Forester of the Year award is a large carved wall panel, a 1989 work of Rotorua carver Lyonel Grant. The principal elements portrayed in the carving are Papa Tuanuku and the children of Tane Mahuta (the forests, both native and exotic) as well as an effort to capture their respective uses using traditional design techniques in a contemporary form.

Biographical notes of the awardees

George Asher, of Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Pukenga descent, is Chief Executive Officer of the Lake Taupo Forest Trust and General Manager of the Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust in the Central North Island. The two trusts administer 55,000 ha of Maori-owned land comprising over 20,000 ha of conservation and heritage protection and 33,000 ha of planted commercial forest. Originally established by the government on land leased from Maori, management of the forest is now progressively being taken over by the two trusts. Mr Asher is a respected member of the forestry sector having been involved in local and international negotiations over the Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) of forest management, a member of the Executive Council of the Forest Owners Association, a member of the Joint Committee for the protection of Lake Taupo and a senior adviser to the Chairman of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. In 2008, George was appointed lead negotiator of the Central North Island Iwi Collective, which has reached agreement with the government in a settlement, worth about $0.5 billion. This includes 176,000 ha of forest (about 10% of NZ’s plantation forest).

Dr. David Bergin is a senior scientist at Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd.) in Rotorua. He is a research and site management specialist in ecological restoration and planting programmes using native plants, covering a range of ecosystems including coastal sand dunes, riparian areas, establishment of plantations and sustainable management of regenerating indigenous forest. David has been very successful at collaboration and communication with land managing agencies and special interest groups including Coast Care, Landcare Trust, Project Crimson, a number of Maori Trusts, Trimble Foundation and Tane’s Tree Trust. He has developed practical guidelines for the rehabilitation of natural vegetation and sustainable management of culturally significant plants. This has included promoting the establishment of native trees for a range of benefits including wood production. David has produced some outstanding publications on a range of important native tree species including kauri, totara and pohutukawa. He is a Trustee of Tane’s Tree Trust, the Dune Restoration Trust, a technical adviser to the Kauri 2000 trust in Coromandel and Scion’s representative on the Northland Totara Working Group.

Background to NZIF

NZIF, with a membership of over 830, is the organisation for NZ forestry professionals. Its main objective is to be an independent advocate for forestry, and to provide services and support to members, the profession, and the general public. Its members are concerned with the professional management of all forests, plantation and indigenous, protection and commercial. The members can be found in forestry companies, consulting businesses, research institutes, educational facilities, government departments and providers of specialist services. The NZIF operates a scheme that controls the registration and conduct of forestry consultants who provide forestry advice to the public. There are around 75 registered NZIF members.

ENDS

© Scoop Media