Forest Resources
E argophloia demonstration
The Forest Resources Research Unit of DPI Science and Research is based within the Forest Science Centre of Excellence, co-located with Forests NSW at Cumberland Forest, West Pennant Hills.
The Forest Resources Research unit provides research and development through three program areas: Forest Health Management; Forest Biodiversity and Ecology and New Forests. The research focus is on providing science-based outcomes for forest resource development and sustainability within NSW.
Research in fields that can add value to the commercial services and planted and native forest businesses of Forests NSW remain a priority. Emphasis includes establishment and product quality of planted forests, and ecologically sustainable management of all forests. Research on the range of important potential benefits to be derived from returning trees to the rural landscape is also an important objective. Benefits include timber, sequestered carbon, enhanced biodiversity and salinity mitigation.
Key research
Eucalypt plantation Christmas beetles
Forest Resources research is undertaken in three areas:
- The Forest Health team undertakes research on the health of the State’s 2.9m ha native and planted forest estate worth an estimated $1.5 billion. Staff undertake an annual survey of the plantation estate to identify pest, disease and nutrient problems. They prescribe remedial action, collaborate on breeding pest and disease resistant plants, detect and diagnose exotic incursions and potential outbreaks of pathogens and insect pests, and maintain nationally significant insect and fungal collections to aid in diagnosis.
Artificial frog pond
- The Forest Biodiversity team delivers research and advice to measure and maximise biodiversity in planted and native forests. Staff quantify effects of forest management practices (logging, fuel-reduction burning, etc.) on fauna and flora, develop management guidelines and models for managing threatened species in forests, identify practical and reliable indicators of biodiversity, develop robust methods for assessing the ecological sustainability of forestry operations, and develop prescriptions for maximising biodiversity outcomes for native vegetation plantings in rural landscapes.
Sampling for wood life cycle analysis
- The New Forests team undertakes research into the environmental services provided by planted forests in the areas of carbon sequestration, salinity management and land rehabilitation, in order to underpin the development of markets for environmental services. Staff develop methods to monitor and predict environmental services, identify appropriate species for salinity management and quantify their effect, quantify the carbon sequestration potential of forest plantings, quantify the fate of carbon in wood products based on life cycle assessment, and quantify the benefits of applying recycled organics to assist establishment of planted forest for mine site rehabilitation. They also undertake research on possible adaptation strategies for Australian forests in response to climate change.
Key research infrastructure
The Forest Resources Research Unit’s headquarters are based at the Forest Science Centre in West Pennant Hills. The centre houses laboratories, insect and fungal collections and a library, although research is undertaken in both state-owned forests and on private land throughout NSW.
Key research collaborations
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Forestry and Forest Products; CSIRO Land and Water; Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Forestry Limited; CRC Bushfires; various international forest and forest product research institutions; Australian Greenhouse Office; NSW Greenhouse Office; NSW Department of Environment and Conservation; NSW Department of Natural Resources; Catchment Management Authorities; water and energy authorities; landholders; timber processors; Greening Australia; R&D (research and development) Corporations, including Forest and Wood Products and the Rural Industries R&D Corporation; NSW Roads and Traffic Authority; the Mining Association; and a range of Australian and international universities.
Scientific outputs
The Forest Resources Research Unit has undertaken research for academic refereed journals. The scientific outputs of this unit are listed by year of publication. Please note the unit is only at the preliminary stages of loading its outputs online. The amount of outputs available here should not be taken as an accurate reflection of the research that has been carried out.
Research and Development Annual Report
The Science & Research and Forests NSW Research and Development Annual Report 2006-07 is available for download.
The Science & Research and Forests NSW Research and Development Annual Report 2005-06 is available for download.
Scientists
Find a list of Forest Resources scientists
Contact
Robert Eldridge
Research Leader, Forest Resources Research
Phone 02 9872 0126
Email Robertel@sf.nsw.gov.au