Firewood growing subject of two-day seminar

Press, 12 September 1986, Page 22

Firewood growing subject of two-day seminar

Increased interest in firewood growing has prompted the Forest Service to organise a two-day seminar on the subject later this year.

The seminar, which will be held at the Students’ Union Building, University of Canterbury, oh October 7 and 8, is intended to familiarise people with the current knowledge of firewood production, growth and business implications.

Consumer interest in wood-fuelled heating is reviving as the costs of, fossil fuels and electricity increase. This is creating an increased demand for

high-quality firewood at a time when traditional firewood sources are being depleted by land clearance and urban development

Because firewood growing is a new development there is a lack of conclusive data and the seminar will bring together experts on all aspects of growing wood for fuel.

Professor Geoff Sweet of the School of Forestry at the University of Canterbury will chair the first day, which includes a paper on current firewood use and trends, and fiek' trips to firewood blocks around Christchurch.

An evening session on the first day will include papers and discussion on various firewood growing operations in New Zealand and abroad.

The second day will begin with a session on wood as a fuel, chaired by Mr Dudley Franklin of the Forest Research Institution at Rangiora. This session will look at alternative fuels, wood properties and wood burning stoves. A session on the production of firewood will look at suitable species, yields, management considerations and harvesting and transport. The final session will be

chaired by the conservator of Forests, Christchurch, Mr Dave Black. This is entitled “The Business of Firewood” and will feature papers on the fuelwood business, economic analysis and finance, and town planning and legal aspects. The final paper will consider future research needs for the firewood growing industry. The registration fee is $2OO, which includes meals, teas and a copy of papers presented. Registration inquiries may be directed to Advisory Services Division, New Zealand Forest Service, Private Bag, Wellington.