Native Forest Action have been leaked information from three separate West Coast sawmills which have trialed beech milling who say that after processing and dressing beech, between 70 % and 80% of the ancient logs are wasted.

“Leaked information Native Forest Action has received confirms massive wastes in beech processing. Because our native beeches naturally have a high rate of pinhole borer and rot, West Coast mills that Timberlands have had trialling beech processing have been discarding a massive 70-80% of the timber,” said Dean Baigent-Mercer spokesperson for Native Forest Action.

“This amount of waste is unforgivable, unsustainable and will always be the case with beech forest logging because of the pinhole borer’s relationship with beech”.

“Not only does this show that Timberlands beech logging is unsustainable in terms of the waste created, but begs the question of what happens to the unused wood; traditionally this material was woodchipped or used for firewood. There is already a lucrative and unethical firewood trade of West Coast beech going to Christchurch – a pathetic and undignified end for our ancient beech forest, habitat of threatened bats and birds.”

“Perhaps Timberlands’ invented figure of 200 West Coast jobs for the beech scheme was actually referring to a firewood industry”.

“Also secret reasons for a port extension and upgrade at Westport are being mooted as allowing shipping of large quantities of woodchipping material - this despite Timberlands constant woodchipping denials”.

ends

© Scoop Media