Benefit from our expert harvest planning, delivered by a team renowned for their skills and experience. We have an unparalleled track record in all aspects of ground-based and cable harvesting. With our strategic log marketing strategies in place, we aim to maximise returns on each timber yield.
Our extensive network includes highly skilled contractors, all of whom meet our independently audited performance criteria, and are adept in the nuances of log marketing.
We offer a diverse range of harvesting management systems, from cable harvesting to compact ground-based teams, each tailored to fit any landscape, always keeping log marketing at the forefront.
Our road construction services are both seasoned and cost-efficient, integral for facilitating the smooth log marketing process.
Harvest planning and the resulting road and landing design and construction is a very important part of the harvesting process. An incorrectly planned forest and/or badly designed and constructed roads can cost a forest owner significantly and result in a negative impact on the net return and the actual value of a forest.
Harvest plans are verified with an on the ground survey and budgets then formulated. Forest360 benchmark all construction costs and strive to ensure that any forest infrastructure is planned and constructed to a high standard while achieving the lowest possible cost.
Infrastructure is pivotal in forestry. Our specialists design roads and landings that facilitate smooth operations and optimise log marketing logistics, considering factors like soil type, gradient, and expected traffic. Once designed, our experienced construction teams bring these plans to fruition, ensuring durable roads and efficient landings, indispensable for log marketing and transporting logs without causing undue wear on machinery or compromising safety.
Moving timber from the forest to the market requires specialised logistics. We offer bespoke transport solutions tailored to the unique needs of each project. Our fleet, combined with our strategic planning, ensures timely and cost-effective transport of logs. Our focus on log marketing ensures that by minimising delays and ensuring the integrity of the timber during transit, your product reaches its destination in prime condition.
A significant proportion of the gross returns from any forest harvesting operation is spent on operational costs (harvesting, roading and cartage). The key to providing the best net return possible is minimisation of costs and maximization of log value.
Your forest’s value isn’t solely in its timber; it lies in the adept management of every stage of the process. Employing advanced techniques, we recover the utmost value from each log, ensuring minimal wastage. Coupled with rigorous cost management practices and our log marketing insights, we ensure that every penny is accounted for, driving profitability. Our approach is holistic, focusing equally on revenue enhancement, cost containment, and efficient log marketing.
Minimisation of costs is achieved by ensuring the correct machinery is employed which is best suited to the forest, that the forest is planned in such a way so the level and placement of infrastructure is optimized, that it is constructed correctly and that day-to-day management maintains this infrastructure. Poor operational management results in inadequate planning, maintenance and budget over-runs.
Value recovery is a key focus for Forest360 and as such many of our harvesting operations have very little, if any pulp wood production.
Maximisation of value recovery ensures that each tree is cut into the grades and lengths that provide for the best return per tonne possible. This involves ensuring that the harvest contractor has the ability to cut a range of different log grades and lengths that allow the proportion of high value grades to be maximised and the low value grades to be minimised.
We like to keep things simple, starting with a chat to find out your goals and aspirations, and what success looks like to you. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach with us – we appreciate that every investor or landowner has a unique set of business goals and constructs.
When you work with us, you can expect a straightforward and streamlined process:
We live and breathe forest and harvest management. It’s in our DNA.
We’ll come out and meet you on your site and analyse every aspect of your operation to ensure we create a detailed management plan.
Site visit and assessment
A site visit is critical to the planning and success of any project. It is also crucial in identifying any potential risks that may threaten a successful outcome.
A site visit is also an opportunity for the Forest360 team to share our operational knowledge with you, as it applies to your unique development.
The plan is the roadmap that identifies your goals and shows how we’ll get there.
Just as every forest operation is different, every plan is unique. The details in the plan will vary depending on your requirements, for example, harvesting and marketing of logs versus a regeneration or other silvicultural operation.
The plan is also a useful document to report against, ensuring there are no surprises along the way.
Our experienced staff can plan and manage your entire operation, providing all the forestry services you’ll ever need to protect your asset. We even have a grower-friendly accounting system to make interpreting the numbers easy.
We currently employ more than 40 harvesting crews throughout the North Island, ranging from small and flexible ground-based crews to large scale mechanised cable hauler crews.
Our customers can be confident they are dealing with the most experienced, committed and qualified forest management team in the country, working together to add value to your investment.
Log marketing and sales options
We’ve built up an enviable network of industry partners around the country to deliver the best net return from the harvest and sale of your assets.
With your objectives in mind, we’ll create a marketing strategy that may include options of managed sales or outright lump sum purchase.
Utilising our networks, you will have access to all major North Island sawmills and the ports of Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth, Marsden Point, Gisborne and Tauranga. Our export sales are managed by the TPT Group, New Zealand’s largest log export company. www.tptforests.com
Risk and threats to harvest analysis
The nature of forestry brings with it specific risks, including fire, wind and crop damage.
As skilled and experienced forest managers, we are well versed in identifying risks and what it takes to mitigate them. Our online and app-based Health and Safety and Environment Systems monitor and manage all stages of growth to harvest, and all locations from site to port. It’s all part of the plan.
When it comes to full forest or log sales, we will work with you to match the most appropriate sales strategy for your forest.
Once the plan is finalised, it’s time for the green light.
Forest360 will manage the entire process, ensuring all regulatory processes are completed, engaging suitable suppliers and organising and maintaining the site, crew and deliverables.
It’s about making sure our systems and processes will deliver what you need and what you expect.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety performance and compliance is probably the single biggest risk facing forest owners, managers and contractors. Historically, the forestry industry has had a poor safety performance and recent legislation has made health and safety management more critical than ever.
Together with Health and Safety industry specialists, we have developed a Health and Safety Management system that is world class, and administered by a full-time manager.
Housed in the cloud to enable quick, easy access and distribution, the management programme includes policies, procedures and documents. Our system is ACC Tertiary accredited and is regularly audited by an independent firm to ensure the system remains complainant, our people remain safe at work and that both our and our clients’ interests are protected.
Direct, Open and Transparent
We take pride in the relationships we build with our customers because they are based on trust.
In all of our operations we operate in a highly transparent way, ensuring you can see the complete picture of where your investment is sitting. Our policy is to consistently monitor and review progress as often as possible. All costs and revenues are fully disclosed and reports are adapted to suit your needs, at a frequency that works for you.
Our aim is to give you a timely and concise picture of your investment’s operation and our clear and direct communication process ensures you are kept informed every step of the way, avoiding any surprises.
We take the ‘plain-English’ approach, making our reporting easy for you to understand and ensuring your expectations are met.
We believe this approach is key to our, and your, success.
Our policy is to review progress as often as possible and with our reporting structure, by the project’s completion, you’ll know exactly where your investment is sitting.
)