world of trees
Brett Tunstall, Senior Forester talks about forest management...
"I enjoy many aspects of forest management and I think it is because it is a culmination of all the hard work that has gone before. There is the design and planting process, right from site and species selection to getting your hands dirty and putting trees in the ground. Being able to quantify the growth and biodiversity at this stage and compare it to the beginning makes my job very special."
Forest Management
To enable a plantation forest to reach it's full potential, forest management must take place. Proactive and intelligent forest management activities allow for significantly higher returns than the industry norm.
By starting with a good design process based on landholder preferences and markets, and continuing with appropriate planting processes, seedling care regime and leading into pruning and thinning activities, forest establishment can be optimised.
Plantation timber can be a sustainable industry with the right knowledge and attitude. Introducing compost on planting, encouraging ground covers and surrounding a forest with shrubs and native species provides habitat and biodiversity. Cell grazing stock through an established forest assists to build soil health and soil moisture.
Agroforestry involves plantations in a farming system for more production, diversification and profitability.