Establishment of NZDFI
On 1st July 2008 the New Zealand Dryland Forests initiative was established at the Marlborough Research Centre in Blenheim. This followed early research on the potential that durable eucalypts could have for use as vineyard posts that started in
2003 with Vineyard Timbers Limited (VT), a Marlborough based Research and Development company, establishing a joint venture with Proseed NZ Limited.
Seed was imported for over 25 species and many formal and informal trials were planted with the co-operation of Marlborough District Council and several private landowners. The Marlborough Research Centre Trust (MRCT) and the NZ School of Forestry (S o F) took an early interest
in this work. The MRCT identifying the regional benefits the project offered with the S o F providing advice on the potential for genetic improvement of heartwood and durability.
By 2006 several promising species had been identified and a formal breeding strategy to improve these was developed by Vineyard Timbers, Proseed and School of Forestry. In 2006 and 2007 applications for government funding for this breeding programme were unsuccessful. Therefore,
this core group decided to launch a regionally funded Research and Development programme based at the MRCT and gained the financial support of Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Lines for this programme.
This wider group made a successful funding application for $80,000 to the Agriculture Marketing and Development Trust (AGMARDT) in October 2008 that has provided the basis for commencing with planting the first base breeding population of Eucalyptus bosistoana in spring 2009. A further $5,000
was granted by the Neil Barr Farm Forestry Foundation to pay for the costs of setting up the NZDFI website.
An official project launch was held on 28th January at the Marlborough Research Centre with the photo below showing the MRCT Chairman, John Marris (left), and Deputy Chairman, Edwin Pitts, unveiling a eucalypt hardwood plaque to commemorate the start of the project.
|
