The environment caring Logger Jason Mc Elwain Picton New Zealand

Pine plantations scattered throughout the Marlborough Sound hills reaching maturity the loggers contracted to fell the plantations, leave behind a scarred landscape of clearfelled land.

Clay ribbon tracks like veins criss-cross the landscape. Laid naked to the wind, rain, sun the exposed landscape provokes thought of the indigenous plants, creatures that have scurried away or died in the process of the felling.

Sitting on a felled pine log a Weta “God of Ugly Things” (Translation from the Maori name wetapunga) appearing alone and lost.

So bare are the hills a rabbit would have to take a cut lunch. A saying taken from the local farmers leaning on the fence feet squarely planted in the lush paddock of green grass sporting the latest in gumboots.

Chips of wood go flying from his chain-saw, logger, Jason works an environmental approach, choosing only the best matured trees, cuts so the angle is such that the tree falls with little impact on the bush. Care taken to ensure young indigenous trees had no impact in the felling.

The road into the bush that was graded by the logger Jason serving as a road and possible link to Department of Conservation walking tracks. Well graded with gentle curves it meanders through a heavily laden pine tree hill a mix of indigenous growth and wild life.

The hauling out the logs are chained together pulled to the new road then to a clearing for stripping the bark and cutting to size then stacked.

Being aware of the environment the art form of an environmentally caring logger preserving as much of the bushland without clearfelling, seems to give strength to the land and promotes the possible seeding of natives that would have a chance to take hold and grow.

As many parts of New Zealand rural land for cattle or sheep are bare of a tree it is thought provoking as all animals like shade or shelter more trees should be planted. New Zealand natives.

Buttered coloured hills of broom on some previously clearfelled areas undergrowth compete to take hold, perhaps taking into account the bare hills, the environmental caring loggers the bush land and the logging for timber could co-exist.

The rural districts benefit from trees planted in the paddocks offering shelter or shade. So does the Nation and those that care for the land or promote the growth of indigenous species require a louder voice hand in hand with funding/investment?

For the future maybe the rabbit will not need to pack a cut lunch.