About 120 people are expected to attend the New Zealand Institute of Forestry’s three-day conference in Dunedin later this month.
The conference is being held in the Dunedin Town Hall on August 30 and 31, with a field trip on September 1.
NZIF is the association of the country’s professional foresters and has about 800 members, conference committee chairman Kent Chalmers, of City Forests, said.
The conference would include a broad overview of what was happening in the industry, including some of the challenges and recent developments, Mr Chalmers said. The field trip would cover some of the challenges that resulted from expanding New Zealand’s forest estate.
Water yield and quality were "hot topics" and the paired catchment study at Glendhu Forest in Lawrence was one of the best sources of data.
That study compared water yields and water quality for a tussock catchment alongside a planted catchment that was now being harvested, he said.
Wilding spread was another major issue and field day attendees would visit Landcorp’s Waipori Station to discuss wilding management when establishing forest in open tussock country.
A stop at Wenita’s Berwick forest was planned.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, Labour MP Stuart Nash, who has a master’s degree in forestry science, and National MP Michael Woodhouse will address the conference and annual awards will be presented.