A low intensity timber harvesting operation will commence in the Strathbogies State forest in January 2018. Source: Timberbiz
VicForests’ General Manager Stakeholders and Planning, Lachlan Spencer, said the operation will use the single-tree selection harvesting method.
“Single-tree selection harvesting is different from other harvesting methods as it removes a much smaller number of trees from an uneven aged forest.
“This style of harvesting has been chosen as a result of discussions between VicForests and the local community that have taken place over a number of years.
“Both good quality trees will be removed for sawlog, to produce high quality timber flooring and furniture, and poorer quality mature trees will be removed to allow the younger trees to become future sawlogs.
“The intention of selective harvesting operations is to leave behind an uneven aged forest once harvesting has been completed and remaining trees are either retained as habitat trees or to continue to grow on,” he said.
Mr Spencer said that VicForests ensure all areas they harvest for timber are regrown with the same type of forest that was originally there.
“The forest on the site will be re-established through a combination of retained trees, natural seedfall from these retained trees and proactively sowing native seed where needed.
“If any further work is required to ensure the area has successfully regrown, we will continue to treat the site until it has regrown,” Mr Spencer said.
Prior to any harvesting, VicForests undertake a thorough multi-layered planning process to consider the management of the many environmental and other values present in the forest.
“VicForests will be assessing this site looking to identify any endangered native species and their habitat prior to harvesting and will continue to check the site throughout the operation to ensure any identified values are appropriately treated,” he said.
The timber from this operation will produce a range of products that will go to mills throughout the state.
“The products made from the wood we sell have a unique hardness, strength, durability and beauty that only slow grown native hardwood timber can produce,” Mr Spencer said.
The area to be harvested is around 40 hectares which will take around two to three months to complete depending on weather.
