The Forestry Corporation of NSW (formerly Forests NSW) has begun planting 3.9 million pine seedlings in plantations around Tumut, Tumbarumba and Batlow. Source: Timberbiz
Forestry Corporation regional manager, Bob Germantse, said the trees were being planted as part of the re-establishment process, which is vital to the sustainability of the region’s forestry industry.
The Forestry Corporation manages 92,000 hectares of State-owned pine plantation in the region.
Germantse said the planting of 3000 hectares of Pinus radiata in forest areas that have previously been planted to pine was the culmination of 12 months’ solid work preparing land and growing seedlings.
“Planting conditions at present are ideal following recent good rain in the forests,” he said.
“The planting program runs through to the end of August, utilising the seedlings when they are at their least active and can best tolerate the transplanting stresses.
“Due to the scale of the operation, the planting program is contracted out to specialized businesses to ensure planting can be completed in a tight timeframe.
“Forestry Corporation crews are actively involved in a comprehensive quality control program that supports the work of contract planting crews.
“More than 100 people will be engaged during the next three months to plant the seedlings.”
Germantse said most of the seedlings being planted have been grown at the Forestry Corporation’s nursery near Tumut.
“The seedlings have been raised from selectively bred seeds and grown in containers on raised beds, which have been watered by a high-tech travelling irrigation system,” he said.
“The containerised seedlings are more robust than bare root seedlings traditionally used to establish pine plantations, and can even be held over to the following year’s planting season if necessary.”
In the local region, the forestry industry employs approximately 1700 people in full-time or equivalent jobs across the forest management, harvesting, haulage and timber processing sectors.
The timber processed in the region is used for such things as structural timber for house construction, plywood, fencing, and pulp for cardboard and paper products.
