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Agroforestry
Authors: Brian LowryPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2010, Issue N.Z.J.For. 55(4) 2011, pp 9, Jan 2011
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Brian Lowry (b_andg_lowry@bigpond.com) discusses the trend towards greater use of new tropical hardwoods in Australian agroforestry. As I have not worked in forestry in Australian forestry*, comparing forestry issues in New Zealand and Australia is difficult. I did for some years, however, work as a CSIRO animal scientist in towards a new agroforestry (or sylvopastoral) system for northern Australia. For this, the species and their management are so different from New Zealand that maybe an outline would be of interest. The salient biological fact is that there are a number of tropical tree species that produce high quality timber and also happen to have foliage of high forage quality. Thus the concept of “dual purpose” trees, grown at wide spacings in pasture, and managed for both wood and animal production. But surely the forage value is irrelevant if it is out of reach? Not if the trees are dry-season deciduous and the fallen leaf is eaten, which it is. In some cases the feed quality is better than - and complements that of - dry-season grass.