Forestry sector applauds Scion result

8 October 2009

Forestry sector applauds Scion result

Members of the forest industry applaud the strong performance of Crown Research Institute (CRI) Scion as reflected in their annual report, tabled in Parliament today.

Future Forests Research Chair Phil Taylor says that Scion’s success as an organisation is extremely positive, because a strong, vibrant and well-focused forestry CRI is critically important to the industry.

“Forest growers in New Zealand are well served by Scion as our key research provider, and we should not forget that their success is our success.

“Research and development is critical to ensure we can stay ahead of our competitors,” he says.

Over the past two years, New Zealand’s major forestry growers have been working in partnership with Scion through Future Forests Research Ltd (FFR) to increase the value of the sector through targeted research programmes. The partnership ensures that both public and private research funding is focused on the needs of the industry, providing both economic and environmental benefits.

Programmes include research aimed at improving wood quality, increasing forest productivity and sustainability, investigating a diverse range of forestry species, and reducing the costs of harvesting on steep land. All are aimed at adding value to New Zealand’s significant forestry sector.

“As we look back over the past year, we can take pride in what we have collectively achieved in terms of attracting funding for research and delivering meaningful research results,” Mr Taylor says.

“In generating value-added research that adds to the profitability of forestry we will, by default, achieve our goal of an expanded role for forestry in the New Zealand economy and environment.”

For more information on Future Forests Research see www.ffr.co.nz

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