The project seeks to provide data to Landowners to maximise their profitability by selecting the mix of short and long log lengths that is best suited for their hardwood (or conifer) plantation forests. A $5 million per year improvement (~5%) in profitability for Tasmanian landowners is potentially available. The information will also be of benefit to forest/landowners in other states.
This is a $540K collaborative research project with Tasmanian forest growers, harvesters, equipment manufacturers and the University of the Sunshine Coast. The project will deliver improvements to practices and equipment to reduce log damage in Eucalyptus nitens logs during mechanised harvesting, improving profitability for landowners, forest growers, contractors, and machine manufacturers.