The New Zealand Dryland Initiative Project won the Supreme Award at the 2015 Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards Dinner on Friday 13 March in Blenheim. Source: Timberbiz
NZDFI Project Manager, Paul Millen received the award on behalf of the NZDFI team.
“Winning this award is fantastic recognition of the huge gains already made by our innovative research team through their collaboration with our diverse group of smart and motivated landowners,” he said.
“We also receive generous financial support from industry organisations, regional councils and central government.
“All those involved see the NZDFI as a project to improve New Zealand’s sustainability.
“Ours is a shared vision for New Zealand to be a world-leader in breeding ground-durable eucalypts, and to be home to a multi-million dollar sustainable hardwood industry based on eucalypt forests, by 2050.
“This Award is a huge endorsement of the environmental benefits that are now possible by New Zealand establishing these eucalypt forests.
“The NZDFI was initially founded to research the potential for naturally durable eucalypts to be grown for use as vineyard posts in Marlborough’s vineyards.
“Our work has shown that selected eucalypts are suitable for growing throughout many North Island and northern South Island regions where droughts are predicted to increase due to climate change.
“Eucalypt hardwood posts could be used throughout NZ’s agricultural sector and within NZ infrastructure including cross-arms for utilities, sleepers for Kiwi Rail, heavy wharf and bridge timbers.
“In the long term we will reduce New Zealands’s NZ$50 million spent on annual timber imports.”
The NZ$3000 prize money that came with the award will contribute to continuing NZDFI’s research program.
