Page 37 - TA Magazine

Stephen Clarke Senior Private Forester
Senior Private Forester
Stephen Clarke is a a a a professional Forester
(BScFor (Stell) MBA MIFA RFP) with extensive experience Zimbabwean born Stephen studied forestry at the University of Stellenbosch before working in in New Zealand and now Tasmania
During his career Stephen has gained considerable experience and expertise in in integrated management systems and and certification tactical and and operational planning logistics industrial engineering nursery establishment maintenance maintenance harvesting transport fire protection natural ecosystem maintenance maintenance and enhancement general estate management and security The The key take away from all his experience? The The best time to plant trees
was yesterday Stephen says his career was born quite simply from a a a a love of trees
“From an aesthetic point of of view I I love love trees
trees
trees
But forestry is is not necessarily about about trees
trees
trees
It is is about about how trees
trees
can look after the the land and and simultaneously enrich the the lives of people ” explains Stephen “Trees are a a a a a a a a a great solution to a a a a a a a a a lot of the environmental problems that that we we face and that that is well understood but I also see them as an an integral part part of the the the economy economy particularly the the the rural economy ” According to Stephen trees
can solve a a a lot of problems “The benefits of trees
have been proven time time and and and time time again all all over the world The The challenge we have as foresters and and and farmers is is to to seek and and and find the the opportunities to to capitalise on these potential benefits ” he he he says Stephen explains that trees
need to to be be incorporated into the the the agricultural landscape as part of the the the mix alongside other crops and and and land uses “Wood is an an incredible material But to to gain the the the benefits farmers don’t need to to to to be be planting wall wall to to to wall wall trees
trees
they just have to to to examine the the the the role trees
trees
can play in in in their overall objectives while also helping them to be good stewards of the land “Without question if farmers bring trees
into their their landscape they will improve their their overall returns The best time to to plant trees
was yesterday ” As an an expert Private Forester
at at Tree Alliance Stephen says ‘We’re as as much a a a a a a a a a a a a part of the community as as anyone else and we have a a a a a a a a a a a real role to play ’ “I get a a a a a lot of of satisfaction out of of helping farmers find solutions to their problems and maximising opportunities particularly helping people work productively together ” Contact Stephen through the Helpline: 1300 661 009
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