Export Targets Proposed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31914, 15 February 1969, Page 44

Export Targets Proposed

(New Zealand Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 14. An export target of 135 m cu. ft of forest products a year by 1973, and 150 m cu. ft by 1978, is recommended in the 1969 National Forestry Planning Model, released today.

This compares with an aver- < age of 87m ft in 1966-1970, ] [says the model which has i [ been prepared for the three- s day Forestry Development 1 1 Conference which will begin in Wellington on Tuesday. i The report also recom- f mends new forest planting at ‘ the rate of 52,000 acres a 1 year, plus a “crash” planting i programme of 5000 acres a year of short-rotation radiata < pine between 1970 and 1975. s By comparison, average i annual plantings over the last t five years have been 34,000 i acres. Age Imbalance l

expenditure will be in the pulp, paper and paperboard processing industries where some sl72m will be required for capital formation. To meet the projected target of 52,000 acres of new forest a year, capital of about Sl2om will be required when the cost of land acquisition is included. Logging capital costs are expected to account for slo4m sawmilling will account for s6om, panel products 819 m, and packaging s22m, the report says. About two-thirds of the

The report says there is an imbalance in the age-class structure of exotic forest in New Zealand and to correct this requires early and rapid expansion of exports, of exotic forest products. But the achievement of a target of 135 m cu. ft by 1973, and 150 m by 1978 means that no more significant increase in export targets is possible before the year 2000 in terms of wood supply from existing forest resources, the report says.

8120 m required for forest planting would continue to be the responsibility of the Government, but it would be desirable to encourage private investment in this field. Land Use The fallacy that forestry should occupy only land not wanted for agriculture should be dispelled, the Forestry Development Conference will be told.

Its production forestry working party says wider recognition should be given to the fact that in some localities forestry is at least as profitable a form of land use as farming and is often more so.

The planting rate of 52,000 acres a year until 1985 would satisfy domestic demand and maintain continuity of exports after 1955, mainly from thinnings and clear felling. But this planting rate would have little impact on planned wood availability for either domestic supply or export targets until the year 2000. Capital Needs

However, land should not lightly be taken out of intensive agricultural use. Best Regions

The Bay of Plenty region contains the bulk of New Zealand's productive exotic forest and the largest potential for expansion, says the report. The potential for expansion is also high in North Northland, Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, King Country, Nelson, Marlborough, Western Southland, and Otago.

The forestry industry will require capital expenditure of 8497 m by 1979 to meet targets being set, says a finance report prepared for the conference.

One of the largest areas of