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Good profits for timber and biodiversity

Landowners in the North and South Burnett have been informed of the financial opportunities in native hardwood production.

At workshops and field days held in February in Monto and Wondai, Private Forestry Southern Queensland staff explained the simple ways that native forests can be made more productive.

Landowners learn about forest production at Booubyjan

“We’ve seen regrowth forests that have 20 times the optimum tree density because of previous ringbarking or heavy logging,” he said.

“Too many trees per hectare will not only be highly unproductive, but they prevent ground cover and shrubs from growing, exposing the topsoil to erosion.”

He said that thinning out the trees was a sound investment considering the substantial improvement in forest productivity and health.

“It lets the trees mature properly, into commercially useful timber,” he said.

“It also has positive spinoffs for biodiversity, as the trees develop a vigorous crown essential for future hollow development, and the structure of the forest improves.”

Similar workshops and field days have been held recently at Wondai and Booubyjan, with over 50 landowners attending the Wondai field day and 18 landholders commencing a 5 day program at Booubyjan. A new Native Forest Management Workshop Series is also forecast to commence at Monogorilby on the 13th of March.

Mr Mathews said the workshop topics included stand assessment, chemical thinning, dealing with contractors and mills, timber values and harvest management.

“We also advise on marketing forest products and the development of harvest agreements and contracts,” he said.

“With State Forest production being phased out, now is a great time to get private forests healthy and more productive.”

“Australian hardwoods are superb building materials and will always be in demand.”

The workshops are supported by the Burnett Mary Regional Group, Burnett Catchment Care Association and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s EMS Pathways to Sustainable Agriculture Program.