Australian Group  Selection (AGS) is one of several harvesting systems used by foresters in  coastal eucalypt forests to produce timber and regenerate areas following  sawlog harvesting.

“The technique involves  harvesting groups of mature trees, which creates gaps in the canopy that allow  light onto the forest floor and encourage regeneration and development of light  demanding species, like blackbutt,” Forests NSW manager planning and  environment, native forests, Andy Stirling, said.

The objective is to  harvest groups of commercially mature trees for sawlogs, whilst retaining other  groups, usually younger trees, as growing stock – future sawlogs for harvesting  in five to 20 years time.

“For people visiting the  forest when harvesting first takes place, it can look confronting,” Andy said.  “But come back in a year or two and see the results as the trees naturally  regenerate.

“AGS allows us to  disperse the impacts of harvesting and maintain a range of tree ages in the  forest, enhancing diversity, and also meet our need for timber well into the  future.”

For more information on  this and other silvicultural techniques, search for Forests NSW Silviculture  Manual  and check out a short multi-media video on AGS. 

This article appears in the Autumn/Winter 2010 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.