Four Canterbury and two Rotorua-based scientists have been awarded for the innovation they are bringing to the sector at the 2016 Forest Science Awards dinner in Napier.

The award winners are Steve Pawson, Scion, Rotorua; Robert Hill, Lincoln Bio Protection, Canterbury; Euan Mason, Canterbury University School of Forestry; Ian Hinton, Timberlands, Rotorua; Keith Raymond, Future Forests Research, Rotorua; and Brionny Hooper, Scion, Christchurch.

Robert Hill says his award is a tribute to the tremendous contribution many very good people have made to the biological control of pests and diseases during the years.

“When we first started back in the 1980s we were considered to be on the lunatic fringe. “The prevailing view was that a good spray would fix anything. Biological control is now seen as the ideal fit with forest sustainability.”    

Brionny Hooper, who won the inaugural young scientist’s award, says she firmly believes if industries looked at the way humans are programmed to see accidents and risks, and learnt from that, there would be fewer accidents.

Evolutionary behaviour

“It’s a matter of understanding intuitive and evolutionary behaviour in humans, instead of just treating safety in a structured and regulatory way.”

Forest Owners Association research manager Russell Dale says the science awards were initiated in 2011 to recognise the extremely important contributions scientists and innovators make to the profitability and sustainability of forestry.

Steve Pawson won a Forest Science Awards for his work in developing a biosecurity mobile phone app and encouraging its use by forest owners.

“In forest growing, everything we do is underpinned by research and successful innovation. “We benefit today from the research investments made by both government and industry in the past.

Increased investment

“Since 2014, when a commodity levy on logs was introduced, I’m pleased to say research investment has increased.

“By innovating and investing in our future, we will stay ahead of the competition and all things being equal, forest owners will prosper and New Zealand as a country will reap many rewards.”

Steve Pawson has been recognised for doing “an outstanding job in communicating and engaging with the industry” in his search for alternatives to methyl bromide, the gas used to fumigate export logs and lumber. This has involved NZ-wide surveys to define the periods when forests are free of the insect pests that pose export biosecurity risks.

Russell Dale says Steve has also been a champion of public science, developing a biosecurity mobile phone app and encouraging its use by forest owners.

Robert Hill has been awarded for his innovative and sustainable approaches to boosting tree growth and health, through the use of beneficial root fungi. This work has also been recognised in the prestigious 2016 Kiwinet Innovation Awards, where Robert was runner-up.

Mortality decrease

Russell says preliminary results from Robert’s research indicate that inoculation with trichoderma fungi will give a 20 per cent increase in initial radiata pine tree growth and a 33 per cent drop in mortality. “If applied widely, this technology could give forest owners a value gain of $50 million a year.”

The award for science of international quality went to Euan Mason, whose work is widely published in international journals.

“With levy funding assistance he’s working with a group of NZ companies to apply growth modelling techniques to NZ forests,” says Russell. “His work has the potential to result in a step change in forest management and profitability.”

Ian Hinton has been awarded for his participation on behalf of all forest growers in industry-good research and its implementation. He’s a member of the Forest Research Committee and has recently been appointed chair of the Biosecurity Research Committee.

Ian’s been instrumental in the application of new technologies to site assessment, inventory management and improved productivity. Among these is LiDAR – an aerial radar system that penetrates the foliage, enabling forests to be measured and monitored remotely.

“His support of research extends to the hosting of field trials within the Kaingaroa Timberlands estate. He’s also very effective at bringing a forest manager’s perspective to the application of research findings in a commercial forest.”

The fifth award went to Keith Raymond for his contribution to the Future Forests Research steep-land harvesting research team.

Steep-land programme

The steep-land harvesting programme is highly regarded and widely promoted by MPI and the Government as an example of a Primary Growth Partnership success story.

“Keith has been involved with this programme since its inception in 2010. His clear direction and programme management skills have been key ingredients in the success of this research and its commercialisation,” says Russell.

“The programme has been a catalyst for a new wave of innovation in harvesting and has led to a step change in industry practice.

“Mechanisation has increased from 23 per cent of the harvest in 2009 to 54 per cent today – a period that has coincided with a halving of serious harm injuries.”

For his part, Raymond dedicated his award to Peter McElvie, his professor at the University Of Canterbury School Of Forestry for “giving me a second chance, instead of booting me out”.

A new award this year is for young scientists, with Brionny Hooperthe inaugural winner.

Russell says during the 18 months Brionny has been in the forest industry she’s been very successful at building relationships at all levels of the industry.

“She’s able to identify key issues quickly and offers solutions for industry partners. She’s an outstanding communicator, is passionate about her work and has the potential to develop a very successful science career.”