Forestry industry adaptations and research in response to the threat of climate change

Government and industry are conducting research and implementing a range of adaptation strategies so that NSW forests can continue to provide wood products at a sustainable level into the future, while maintaining and enhancing forest health.

The following adaptation strategies are discussed below:

Harvesting operations and forest management plans
NSW forestry biodiversity monitoring programs
Water recycling, container planting

Harvesting operations and forest management plans

When an area of forest is harvested for the wood product, an approximate 250 hectare land parcel, or compartment, has been assessed for many values so that a harvest occurs in an economically viable and ecologically sustainable way.

A harvest plan includes maps of the area proposed to be harvested. These maps detail things like threatened species sightings, drainage features, special habitat areas, the roads, and the types of forest present. The plan details the history of harvesting operations, and when the next harvesting operation in the same area is expected.

To write a harvest plan, a pre-operational planning survey takes place which provides an assessment of the many important parameters outlined in an Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Plan (ESFM Plan). Find out more about ESFM Plans.

Observations that are linked to forest health, for example natural and cultural heritage, are included in a harvest plan. A survey may identify an insect infestation or tree disease that may influence how the section of forest is harvested so that no timber goes to waste, or so that harvesting in the future is not affected by a tree disease. A pre-operational survey may also find significant habitat of a threatened species or plant that needs to be protected and, as a result, exclusion zones, where no trees are to be harvested, are written into the harvest plan. The plan then provides a clear set of instructions for field staff and contractors to carry out the harvesting.

These measures are what allow forests to be harvested in an ecologically sustainable manner, and on a forest-by-forest basis. Selective harvesting is the method often used in forestry operations where a selection of trees are harvested from a forest, so that the remaining trees can maintain the forest structure and wildlife habitat, contribute to the forest's ability to regenerate and to mature for future harvesting operations.

Thinning the forest, i.e. strategic removal of selected trees

Harvest plans can take into account early symptoms of physical environmental changes that might be associated with long-term climate change. For example, if there is reduced water availability in a land parcel, the harvest plan could recommend some thinning or the strategic removal of selected trees. Trees suffering from drought stress have reduced vigour, lose their leaves and are also more susceptible to dieback from insect attack. Thinning allows the remaining trees to have more access to water, which then allows those trees to reach their growth potential.

Find out what a harvest/harvesting plan map looks like.

NSW forestry biodiversity monitoring programs

As we already know, prior to harvesting, wildlife surveys are required as part of a harvest plan to determine if any exclusion zones need to be set up around threatened species sightings or habitat. Forests NSW is trying to undertake better, more comprehensive vegetation and wildlife surveys so that entire species populations and habitats can be monitored over larger areas, not just over individual land parcels designated for harvesting. This way, if any forest management tools have been used, for example thinning a section of forest to promote growth in the remaining trees, the results will be more easily observed as effective or not effective.

Pilliga West monitoring study

The Pilliga region in the north central area of NSW, 20 km north of Coonabarabran, was selected to trial a new wildlife monitoring model. The model combines a combination of survey research techniques including threatened species sightings, and 72 two hectare permanent plots in forest areas targeted for harvest. Each two hectare plot will be repeatedly surveyed to monitor any changes over time.

In the diagram below, for each one kilometre radius or circle area, dots are used to represent wildlife survey points:

Red dot - birds are surveyed;
Blue dot - birds, reptiles, plants and bats are surveyed;
Central black dot - birds, reptiles and plants are surveyed;
Brown hashed area - night survey occurs. A night survey consists of spotlight searching for nocturnal animals, and a recording set up to identify animals by their calls to each other.

The Pilliga West monitoring study

Based on lessons learned in the Pilliga area, a variety of other areas will be surveyed (not just those subject to harvesting) and will include a survey of vegetation as well as fauna. Forestry managers will be able to use this more comprehensive dataset to enable forestry operations to be more responsive to environmental changes in the future.

Further forest industry adaptations

A nursery watering system

Water recycling system

Forests NSW Dubbo nursery installed a water recycling system featuring an underground collection system. Over a period of six months, water usage was reduced by over 67% (the equivalent of 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools) compared with the same period last year.

Containerised nursery plants

Forests NSW Grafton nursery is one of many businesses now growing radiata pine in containers so that planting in plantations can take place when environmental conditions are right. In 2007 the nursery produced more than 900 000 containerised pines for planting across NSW in state-owned pine plantations. More than 500 000 containers of radiata pine grown from the seed at the Narrandera nursery were used to replant areas of plantation pine burnt during fires near Tumut in December 2006.

Containerised pine seedlings

The advantages of containerised pine are that the plants need less irrigation water and they are more flexible, as seedling growth and other physiological characteristics can be more easily controlled. Because of this control, the planting season can be longer, and therefore planting can be delayed until weather conditions and variables like soil moisture can be assessed as suitable.

The use of containers could also boost survivability of young seedlings and increase production at harvest time.¹

Research

Read about the following research:

Return to Climate change and forestry

¹NSW Department of Primary Industries, 'Nursery moves into containerised pine', Bush Telegraph, Winter edition, 2007.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/bush-telegraph-magazine/winter-2007/nursery-moves-into-containerised-pines