The field day held at Benham Pastoral recently was designed to showcase a real example of sustainable native forest harvesting managed by SFM, and to provide those on the excursion with an accurate understanding of our approach and commitment to sustainable native forest harvesting; how it is a sustainable practice, and how value is guaranteed to the landowner.

SFM is currently managing approximately 2,000 hectares of native forest on the property, with potential for a further 2,500 ha. Our management objectives for Benham are as follows;

• Remove mature peppermints and gums where areas are adequately stocked with regeneration;
• Retain ‘seed trees’ as an insurance against fire;
• Protect and enhance ‘advanced growth’ (saplings) to continually improve forest stocking and health;
• Continue subsequent thinning of the re-growth stands on a 15-20 year cutting cycle to provide ongoing volume (future sawlogs and veneer peelers) and income to landowner; and
• Protect, enhance and manage existing natural values, i.e. wedge-tailed eagle habitat, wildlife habitat corridor and clumps, historical sites, etc.

Designated sites on Benham were visited, each one demonstrating the various aspects of harvesting activity and sustainable forest management practices. Selective harvesting, potential sawlog retention and commercial thinning practices were explained in context.

Selective harvesting, as discussed at the northern end of the property, is generally applied to open, multi-aged stands with an adequate stocking of sawlogs. Only selected merchantable trees are removed, retaining all other growth.

At a southern site on the property, potential sawlog retention is explained. This method is suitable for forests that contain advanced growth (saplings) and larger re-growth timber. These stems may be currently marketable as pulpwood, but have the potential to grow into higher-value sawlog stems.

In other areas on Benham commercial thinning has been carried out; a practice suitable for even-aged re-growth with high stocking levels on sites with good growth potential. Trees to be retained are selected on the basis of form, size and spacing until the nominated retention rate is achieved. In 20-30 year old stands an even distribution of 180-250 stems per ha may be retained; whereas in older stands the retention rate may be reduced to 50-100 stems per ha.

Optimum segregation of the wood products was also explained as a central measure in SFM’s strategy to deliver best value to the landowner and to make best use of the forest resource.

It was a successful day and we thank everyone for their attendance. We are planning another field day early in 2011.

Frank O’Connor describes the history of the Benham Forests to an attentive crowd. (Photo: Arthur Lyons)

Participants discuss selective harvesting regimes in Dry E.delegatensis forests (Photo: Arthur Lyons)

Bush Boss Bob Williams describes how logs are measured and segregated to maximise value of each tree (Photo: Arthur Lyons)

SFM Forest Manager Brett Stevenson describes the single stem selection process (Photo: Arthur Lyons)

Field Day participants enjoy a BBQ and drink in fashion. (Photo: Arthur Lyons)