Tackling the challenges and delivering value is the theme for the 2014 New Zealand Institute of Forestry conference in the Hawke's Bay from July 6-9.

Better known as New Zealand's fruit bowl, and one of the country's premium wine growing regions, the Hawkes Bay also has 135,000 hectares of forestry plantation split between a few large companies and many smaller growers.

Hawke's Bay has innovative processors, some steep environmental challenges and a coming harvest volume spike.

A field trip, which is part of the conference, will provide an opportunity to see some of the unique aspects of the region, including one of the world's elite golf courses, a studio of wooden artworks exported around the world, massive laminated beams being processed and one of the few remaining integrated forestry companies.

An additional field trip option will showcase Cape Sanctuary to see the wildlife recovery programme where kiwi, takahe, tuatara, pateke and many forest species, reptiles and seabirds are being restored to abundance in a productive landscape of pines, sheep and golf on Cape Kidnappers.

The conference is the Institute of Forestry's main event for the year and will be attended by forest owners, professionals, managers, consultants and educators.

Conference speakers will address a range of topics, including: operating within the law; how forest growers are meeting land use challenges in Hawke's Bay; shaping a better industry; making the most of production volumes and logistics; selling it all in the face of international competition and increasing the value of forests.

To find out more, go to: www.forestry.org.nz