Forests NSW will use the Grafton Forest Technology Centre and a $346,000 grant to breed trees suitable for timber production in drier areas of Australia.

Tree improvement manager, Michael Henson, said winning the grant would go a long way towards finding suitable tree varieties to cater for climate change on the east of Australia.

“The aim of this project is to develop elite seed and clones of species of Eucalyptus that are not traditionally grown commercially to produce forest plantations in low rainfall areas,” Michael said.

“These areas are typically the Hunter Valley, South West Slopes and North West Slopes and Plains.”

Michael said the elite germplasm would be based on growth, wood density and the ability to sequester carbon. The grant has been provided through the environmental funding programs section of the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Michael said the grant would build on work already undertaken by the tree improvement group.

“Forests NSW has established 18 pedigree progeny and clonal trials of pure eucalypt species and their hybrids that have potential in low rainfall and marginal agricultural sites,” he said.

“This new project proposes building on this investment by assessing the established trials for growth, form and wood property traits, and identifying genetically superior trees for improved planting stock.”

This article appears in the Spring 2006 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.