Weighing up the benefits of silviculture and tree breeding on wood quality and prices

Authors: John Purey-Cust
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2006, Issue N.Z.J.For. 51(4) 2007, pp 40, Jan 2007
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: [First paragraphs...]
I read our Editor’s musings and the subsequent articles on the impact of silviculture on wood quality (51/3) with interest and some confusion. A large part of the latter reflects of course both my age and understanding of the technologies discussed - I am interested to learn that so much may be found out about wood strength and structure by the use of these techniques, but my own knowledge is such that I must either accept or reject it. Given the source, I accept it.

The question that then has to be asked, because both the title of the feature and comment in Euan Mason’s editorial raise the subject, is ‘but what relationship does all this bear to silviculture ?’ It looks to me very much more related to tree breeding. That does not belittle its importance, it just places the exercise somewhere else than silviculture in the continuum of forest management decision making.

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