Bioenergy funding to better utilise forestry slash

“The Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use recognised current forest harvest practices are not sustainable. In some parts of the country, like Tairāwhiti, there is an urgent need to create a commercial use for harvest residues, such as forestry slash and other woody debris,” Peeni Henare said.

Alongside the NZ$10 million to immediately clean up slash and debris in Tairāwhiti and other weather-hit areas announced ahead of Budget 2023, the Government is investing a further NZ$10.4 million into woody biomass research.

“We want to look at how we can better manage slash through the forestry process and whether it can be used in bioenergy generation locally in Tairāwhiti,” Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.

“One of the aims of the research is to maximise the management of woody debris, including slash. This includes a study into better slash recovery methods, transportation, processing methods and market options so the resource is used rather than left to cause issues in our communities. The research will build an evidence base for investing in woody biomass supply, and help government and the sector chart a sustainable way forward.”

Two other projects underway will aid the consenting of a bioenergy plant in Tairāwhiti to increase the productive use of slash, and also the development of business models for ‘continuous cover forestry’ in New Zealand, which means trees will be cut down on a rotation, as a viable alternative to ‘clear-felling’ or cutting them down all at once.

“Through MPI, the Government is supporting the consent activity of a collective in the Tairāwhiti-Hikuwai region to develop a bioenergy plant that turns woody debris into a mix of biodiesel and electricity to support their local community,” Peeni Henare said.

“This project is designed to provide a self-sufficient slash management process to reduce the impact of slash on the community and environment. The plant is a pilot and if successful will become a model for other forestry regions across New Zealand.

“The inquiry also recommended restricting the practise of clear-felling of plantation forests in some areas, particularly on steep country with highly erodible soils. For this to be successful, new models need to be developed to ensure there is a viable alternative.

“That is why I am keen to look at continuous cover forestry initiatives that limit the volume of trees cut down in order to maintain canopy cover and protect soil from erosion. We are investing across the supply chain and looking at the whole system, so we can make changes for the better in this region and across New Zealand,” Peeni Henare said.