Forest Operations

This section of our website gives a brief synopsis of the main operations that are undertaken during the full cycle or rotation of our forests.

After new land is acquired, or after clearfelling, the planting of trees begins. In new land available for planting, the soil can be deficient in nutrients, and fertiliser is applied in these instances. In general, reforestation sites do not require fertiliser. During the tree rotation smaller trees are thinned out of the forest, so that the larger trees have more light in which to grow. In order to extract the thinned timber from the forests, forest roads must be built. During this cycle, it is important that the forests are protected from the risk of wind, fire, and pests such as insects and fungi. In addition, control of weeds in the early stages of the plantations is crucial for the successful establishment of the trees. When clearfelling occurs, the cycle begins once again with the planting of new trees. Timber is not the only product that comes from our forests. There are many non-wood products in our forests for the public to enjoy.