Farmers and land managers want to manage their forests and farms for different values and outcomes. Local Land Services provides assistance and advice to help you get started in Farm Forestry.
Assessing your forest will help you to understand:
- the forest types on your property
- their attributes
- their growth status.
This can help you to decide which silvicultural practices will work with your forest management objectives.
If you have an approved Private Native Forest Plan from Local Land Services, you can use this guide. It will help you to identify the attributes of your forest and infrastructure to help you develop a Forest Management Plan.
How to assess your forest
On most properties there will be a range of forest types and trees of different size, age and shape.
Many trees will be unsuitable for timber harvesting because they will be too small, in poor condition, or are important habitat for wildlife.
Getting a general feel for the forest types and the mix of tree ages and sizes will help you to determine the type of forestry operations that are appropriate. Types of trees include:
- Young trees (regrowth) - these can be thinned for pulpwood or lower value products such as mulch or firewood, but there may be a limited market for this product.
- Trees approaching maturity - these trees that are healthy, vigorous and of good form will usually be the main source of timber (sawlogs).
- Old trees - the timber in old trees tends to be high in defect and are often best retained for habitat.
Classifying standing timber
Assessment of standing timber involves measurement and visual examination of individual trees. You do not need to examine all trees, just a sample of them.
There are five main types of logs, listed in descending order of value:
- Premium logs (poles, piles, girders and veneer)
- High quality sawlogs
- Fencing timber (round and split)
- Low quality sawlogs (salvage logs)
- Residue logs (chip logs, firewood fuelwood).
Premium and high-quality sawlogs attract the highest prices and so can be transported greater distances than lower quality logs.
Classifying standing timber into log products requires knowledge, skill and experience. It involves estimating the diameter, length, straightness and checking for internal defects. It is best that this process is undertaken by an experienced forestry contractor.
Factors influencing standing timber quality
Past disturbances like bushfires, droughts, disease and windstorms all have an influence on timber quality. For example, a forest that has been subject to wildfire or impacted by forest pests is likely to have more defective timber.
Trees with defective timber will likely show signs such as:
- lumps and bumps on the stem
- hollows and dead limbs
- a poorly formed crown.
Income from log sales is determined by the average price and yield. If harvesting targets trees with high quality timber this will generate a high average price but if the yield is low the income may be modest.
Care should be taken when contemplating light selective harvesting. There is a risk that the forest will be degraded by the removal of the best growing trees, leaving behind only poorer quality stems.
It is important to ensure harvesting is sustainable. Do this by leaving adequate growing stock and regeneration to sustain future harvesting operations and habitat.
Assessing forest infrastructure
Whilst assessing your forest, it is also important to consider what forest infrastructure already exists or may be required for forestry operations. An effective forestry operation will require a network of roads and log loading areas that are suitable for use by harvest haulage trucks.
Most properties have an existing network of roads and tracks. If your forests have been subject to timber harvesting in the past the design of the roads and tracks is likely to be suitable for log haulage.
Harvesting and haulage contractors can advise on minimum road design and specifications for their equipment.
Detailed guidance on the design, construction and maintenance of roads and crossings is provided in PNF Codes of Practice and Forest Management Guidelines.
Silvicultural guidance
There are a range of silvicultural practices that may meet your forest management objectives. Use the following resources to help you understand more about forestry harvesting and regeneration activities that may apply to your property.
Find more advice on our Forestry management resources and guides page.
Your next steps
Once you have a PNF Plan approval from Local Land Services and you have assessed your forest, your next steps before conducting a forestry operation are:
- Preparing for a forestry operation
- Lodging a Forest Management Plan for approval
- Notification of harvesting operations.