Forestry research

Our researchers are working on a range of industry-driven and academic projects individually and within research groups and clusters within our two disciplines: Forestry Science and Forest Engineering.

Research is being conducted into Sustainable Land Management in order to sustain New Zealand's unique and endemic biodiversity. The focus is on both agricultural and forestry systems where the primary management objective is economic use (meat, wool or timber production). 

Our research in Forest Engineering is aimed at improving the operational performance of the NZ forest industry. Topics include Biomass/Bioenergy and Environmental Impacts.

Research strengths

Sustainable land management

Areas of current research in sustainable land management include:

• Biodiversity conservation in primary production systems
• Restoration ecology
• Pest management in primary production systems
• Continuous cover forestry (CCF)
• Dryland forestry
• Forest-scale site assessment

Research centres and groups

• Sustainable Land Management in the School of Forestry

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Forest engineering

Areas of current research forest engineering include:

• Biomass and bioenergy
• Operational efficiency
• Environmental impacts
• Forest roading

Research centres and groups

• Forest Engineering in the School of Forestry

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Forest variability

Areas of current research in forest variability include:

• Wood quality
• Breeding
• Silviculture
• Modelling

Research centres and groups

• Managing Forest Variability in the School of Forestry

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Forestry business management

Areas of current in forestry business management include:

• Economic and market analysis
• Valuation
• Carbon forestry
• Business performance
• Land management planning, and land use change
• Ecosystem services

Research centres and groups

• Forestry as a Business in the School of Forestry

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are: