What we’ve achieved
For almost 15 years we’ve worked with rural landholders to establish more than 100 demonstration sites and trials to identify commercial timber species suitable for growing across the region.  As a result, we are now able to recommend with confidence, species that have the potential to grow well in our region.  We do not believe the species list is complete and it will be a few years yet before newly established trials yield reliable results.

Some of the species trials include:
• Acacia species elimination trials
• Acacia spacing trials
• Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus saligna integrated trials
• Hybrid Eucalypt trials (Eucalyptus globulus X Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

Species established in demonstration sites include:
Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus botryoides, Eucalyptus muelleriana, Eucalyptus nitens, Eucalyptus cypellocarpa, Eucalyptus bosistoana, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus microcorys, Eucalyptus benthamii, Eucalyptus aggregata, Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus longifolia, Eucalyptus pilularis, Eucalyptus cladocalyx, Eucalyptus macrorhyncha, Eucalyptus radiata, Corymbia maculata, Casuarina cunninghamiana.

Ground preparation techniques we undertake and recommend are best practices and have been adopted by many Landcare groups and other NRM agencies.

The significance of this work
Healthy, fast growing trees sequester more CO2 than slower growing species.  When carbon trading becomes a significant mechanism for offsetting emissions, knowing which species to plant will become an important economic and environmental consideration. 

Money invested in revegetation projects is wasted if the trees die because the most appropriate species haven’t been planted.

Landholders who carry out successful tree planting projects are, a) often encouraged to plant more, and, b) influence neighbours and friends to “have a go”.

Community Events
The field days and forums we organise are a way of disseminating information and exposing our community to leaders in their fields of expertise.

Topics of forums we’ve held include:
• Carbon Trading and Bioenergy – Opportunities for the South East of NSW
• Farming in the Future
• Forest Health and Dieback
• Fires and Forests – Management Issues
• Timber Marketing

Other Research
The economics of farm forestry will be improved if markets can be found for the small diameter trees that are removed during a thinning operation.  We have carried out research into the utilisation of three and four year old eucalypt thinnings and black wattle regeneration for the rural fencing market. 

The results indicate all species have adequate strength and can be successfully treated to protect the young timber from wood decaying bacteria and insects.  Results of the trials is available on request.

Other features
• Our quarterly newsletter is sent to nearly 500 landholders and stakeholders.
• We provide information and advice to more than 1000 landholders each year.
• No other organisation in the region provides advice on growing and managing trees for commercial timber production.
• We promote the growing and managing of trees for both commercial and environmental outcomes.