Webinar: The draft Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan (presented by Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service)

Posted by Anne Phiri on Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Date: 
Tuesday, 6 September 2022
Where: 
Zoom Meeting

NOTE: The Zoom link for this webinar has changed.  Please use new link in the 'Registration Details' box below to join tomorrow's webinar.

The Minister of Forestry has released the draft Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan for consultation.

This presentation will discuss the main points of the draft plan and show how bioenergy and biofuels fit within the framework for getting greater value from wood residues.

The Industry Transformation plan.
Creating a high value and resilient forestry and wood process sector to under pin our low emissions future.

The key change in the draft plan is to encourage the sector to process more logs and wood residues onshore, leading to an increase in value-added wood products and residues necessary for the growing bioeconomy.

The plan aims to:

  • help New Zealand capitalise on new technologies so that we can process the lower grades of logs, which we typically export into higher value products
  • promote new high-paid jobs in the regions, support economic growth, and produce greater amounts of woody residues
  • support New Zealand's goals to lower emissions in construction, transport, and in sectors that rely on coal
  • support the development of biochemicals, bioplastics, and biopharmaceuticals
  • diversify our plantation forests to enable us to produce new products, find new markets, and build the sector's resilience.

Find more information here - Draft Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan

Registration details

About the presenter

Dr Elizabeth Heeg is currently the director of Forestry System for Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service which includes responsibility for the Forest and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan, Sector Investment, Operational Policy and Indigenous Forestry.

Most recently she was head of the Aquatic Unit at the Department of Conservation leading a team of science and technical advisors who deliver research and advice to support the conservation of marine and freshwater ecosystems and species. She has a strong understanding of resource management systems and the regulatory and policy frameworks supporting them.