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FORESTRY Tasmania is taking its expertise to the world through its consultancy arm, Forest Technical Services.
IMAGE BELOW. Paul Adams and Dion McKenzie (Forestry Tasmania) discussing the design and layout of the silviculture demonstration trial with YFG (Yong'an Forestry Group) staff member near Yong'an in Fujian province, China 2009.
Forestry Tasmania managing director Bob Gordon said the new service, which provides expert technical advice to domestic and international markets, was a positive for both the government owned corporation and its clients.
“Forest Technical Services capitalises on FT’s extensive expertise in assessment and planning, stand management, product development and marketing,” he said.
“For 90 years, we have managed state forests on behalf of the people of Tasmania, and over that time we have developed the skills, expertise and forest research capability that are now much sought after by established and developing forestry companies around the world.
“Through Forest Technical Services, we are able to share our expert staff and knowledge with others for a fraction of the amount it would cost for companies to establish an in house research and development unit.”
Services provided by Forest Technical Services include:
Mr Gordon said the setting up the service was a logical extension of work already undertaken by Forestry Tasmania.
“We have provided technical services to external clients and have undertaken research for government initiatives,” he said.
“FT has delivered LiDAR laser technology based mapping for geological and dam-building projects in Tasmania and it is expected there will be a strong demand for FT expertise for external projects in this area in the future.”
Forestry Tasmania has also provided advice on eucalypt nursery and silvicultural practice in China for the past decade.
“Forestry Tasmania has developed a strong presence and reputation in certain parts of the China forest sector as a reliable partner in a range of activities, including log product supply, plantation management, forest tourism and forest certification,” Mr Gordon said.
IMAGE BELOW Forestry Tasmania staff and members of the Yong'an Forestry Group team at Fuxi Forest Farm, China 2009.
“It has identified market opportunities to significantly expanded the delivery of forest technical services, building on this reputation.
“We recently signed a $570,000 commercial agreement with China’s Yong’An Forestry Group (YFG) in relation to its eucalypt plantations in Fujian Province in south-eastern China.
“Forest Technical Services will develop tree breeding and silviculture and will also help develop sustainable management of plantations which is becoming an increasingly high priority in China.
“YFG is currently constructing a new medium density fibreboard (MDF) plant in Yong’An, which will have an annual wood volume intake of 400,000 cubic metres. Forestry Tasmania will help the company increase the productivity and quality of its eucalypt plantations, not only to supply the new MDF mill but also for the production of solid wood.”
Forest Technical Services is also achieving quality results for eucalypt plantations in Chile and is looking at ways to help growers to process and export their product.
“We have provided advice on growing and marketing the Eucalpytus nitens species which was originally imported from Australia and is one of the main species grown by Forestry Tasmania and the Chileans,” Mr Gordon said.
“Plantation owners in Chile have adopted Forestry Tasmania’s approach to pruning and thinning eucalypt plantations for clearwood production, and excellent results have been achieved.
“FT staff have also provided advice on marketing and value adding, including processing nitens for sawn timber.”
Download FTS booklet -
Forest Technical Services to the Local and Global Forest Industry
[PDF 2, 800 kb]
