The Forest360 Land Use Team has extensive experience in assessing different land types for a range of alternative uses. While plantation forestry is Forest360’s core business, the Land Use Team have expertise in many other aspects of forestry and trees on farms.
Assessment of the potential of farmland for forestry and trees takes expert advice and consideration.
We can help you identify the best uses for different parts of your property. There are many options: we will undertake a whole-of-property analysis, aiming to find the right combination of forestry, farming, and other potential enterprises to suit your long and short-term objectives.
Maintaining a viable farming enterprise will always be considered as one of the options if that is what you require.
For landowners interested in the potential of their land for any type of forestry, we like to start by undertaking a brief-desk-top assessment of your property to determine which areas are eligible for the ETS.
From here, our land-use appraisals include:
We will also inform you of any grants or other funding packages potentially available for different options – for example:
The New Zealand forest industry has positioned itself in global markets as a low-cost, high-quality provider of softwood logs and lumber to emerging markets.
While this positioning has created growth and opportunities in the forest investment sector, we know that all investments require specific and specialist skills to assess their quality. The returns from forest investment can be favourable, however, the risks around poor decisions are significant.
And not all forestry investments are simply about radiata pine. Some people may be looking for indigenous or specialty species, and for environmental, recreation and amenity values from their forests. Carbon benefits are also of primary importance to some investors.
We have an excellent understanding of the components that drive forest values, particularly those around managing risk.
Our forest investment services include:
Once you have made a forestry investment, we can provide forest management services to meet all your needs.
Global demand for high-value mānuka products is increasing. New Zealand’s marginal land-owners are uniquely placed to take advantage of this.
Options to consider:
Developing a sustainable venture based on mānuka is often complex, however, we can help you assess the practical and economic aspects of developing a mānuka enterprise.
We can also help you with other honey and bee-related opportunities – for example, beekeepers need both over-wintering sites for hives and sites suitable for raising queen bees.
We can assess areas of your property in terms of their suitability for bees, advise you on how new plantings can enhance value for bees, and help you negotiate robust contracts with beekeepers.
The Forest360 Land Use Team has experience in a wide range of specialty species if your interests are in diversifying plantings away from radiata pine.
Specialty species produce attractive timbers, increase biodiversity, and enhance the landscape and amenity values of forest and woodlot plantings. Plantings on Post 1989 forest land are also eligible for the ETS, and carbon benefits can compete with those from radiata pine.
Species include:
Specialty species are generally much more site-demanding than radiata pine, and require different establishment and management techniques. The Land Use Team can assess your property, identify areas most suited to any particular specialty species, and provide advice on establishment and management.
Trees are often a key part of sustainable land management on farms, and highly valued by farmers for the multiple benefits they deliver.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the potential for any of the following on your farm:
With careful design, there is potential for all of these types of planting to be eligible for the ETS if on Post 1989 forest land.
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