Small Forests in New Zealand A Survey of Landowner Objectives and Management

Authors: Julie Rodenberg, Bruce Manley
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2011, Issue N.Z.J.For. 56(2) 2011, pp 15-19, Aug 2011
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: A survey of 728 small forest landowners throughout New Zealand that own 20-200 hectares of forestland and also farm other land found that the majority enjoy owning forest. The main reason for owning forest was income from timber with very few landowners using their forest land for recreation. The median farm size was 400 hectares and the median forest plantation was 37 hectares. Planting of radiata pine peaked in 1994 and 1995 with more radiata planted in 1994 than in all the years from 2000-2009. Most landowners are performing some type of silviculture in their forests. Ninety percent of landowners are currently pruning but only 61% plan to prune in the future with a further 19% unsure. Only 26.4% of landowners have engaged in any commercial harvesting in the past ten years but as their current rotation matures 71 to 95 % plan to replant on the same site. A majority of respondents thought the situation for forest landowners was getting better.

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