Business View Oceania | Volume 3, Issue 9

21 22 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 ACT ION FOREST MANAGEMENT Thompson elaborates on the importance of education within the company. “We certainly believe that training our people at all levels is an investment, both in our future and theirs. It comes with a certain level of risk, as does any investment, but we are confident that our working environment is positive and enjoyable enough that our staff will continue to stay with us and use the resources we give them- and this is despite a generally high turnover of staff in the forestry silviculture sector. We want to do everything right for them, which means setting up pathways for ongoing education in whatever role they’re in, whether that is in the form of units of study, assessments, or national certificates.” Action Forest Management also invests into employees in life skills development, drivers’ licenses, and business skills. The employment of young people is AFM’s way of giving back to their community. Thompson expresses his desire for young people to be supported in skills development before they enter the industry. “We need some form of support for young people looking to get into forestry, whether it’s from an educational initiative or at a government level. They need to be able to take on the job mentally and physically, and have basic life skills like budgeting, practical maintenance, first aid, licences, and basic mechanical knowledge. That’s not just for us from a business point of view. It’s also something they will need as they grow.” Along with other progressive forestry contractors and forest managers, Action Forest Management is proactively lobbying for more a sensible & relevant Drug & Alcohol Testing Regime to be introduced. Thompson says, “The current testing method (urine) is slow, costly, and outdated for today’s society and for our forest industry needs. A saliva testing regime (compliant with AS/NZ4760:2019) makes this method of checking for cannabis and other drugs readily available and simple to implement. Simpler means cheaper, and employers would use it more regularly to maintain honestly and keep impaired people out of our workforce. It would assist in maintaining health & safety standards at the highest level.” What makes Action Forest Management truly unique is their ability to provide high class services to a wide range of forest managers whilst maintaining a strong focus on sustainability. Conservation and sustainability services at AFM include biological protection against invasive wildlife, plant and fungus species, maintenance of forest tracks to allow for proper access to all areas, and fire protection plans. Implementing Wilding Pine eradication in the nearby Mount Richmond Forest Park is a current example of invasive plant control. Smaller environmental initiatives are regularly implemented throughout company practices, such as the use of completely biodegradable toilet paper to mark planting lines instead of chemical-laden spray paint or dye. Alongside their regular conservation efforts for forest owners and managers, AFM has completed significant rehabilitation work with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. The company has also completed similar work in Abel Tasman National Park and Richmond Forest Park. This year alone, AFM has planted over half a million seedlings across top of the South Island. Action Forest Management is keen to expand in the future to service more areas across the top of the South Island. Thompson explains that the company name is spread largely by word of mouth and client referrals, so it is important that they continue providing top quality services. “We will keep doing what we’re doing, which is really focussing on quality, safety, and the satisfaction of our forest managers. We will continue to adapt to industry changes as they come along and develop our brand from there. Silviculture has an ageing workforce, which is great in some ways because it means a lot of our workers have years if not decades of experience, but it does