The Forest Science team provides evidence-based forest research services that underpin sustainable use of NSW’s native forests and productive plantations. The unit also has extensive technical expertise and capability in field based research, biometrics, spatial modelling, Geographic Information System (GIS) and cost-benefit analysis.
The Forest Science team provides research and development services to the forestry sector and a number of stakeholders including contracted research projects that assist the Forestry Corporation of NSW in its sustainable management of 2.2 million hectares of publicly-owned State forest. The group also works with organisations with an environmental and/or forestry socio-economic focus.
Its science-based research outcomes play a key role in shaping policy, industry and environment management decisions that share a common aim: sustainable management of forest landscapes through active and adaptive management.
Forest Science is made up of the four research areas listed below. Visit our Key Services for a quick overview of the services that each group provides. We also produce a quarterly Newsletter with a focus on one or more current activities within each group. The Science and research staff profiles contain detailed information about some of our Forest Science staff, including research interests, background and publications - choose the Forestry category to see only our staff.
Dr Brad Law, Forest Ecology, discusses his forest biodiversity research in relation to forestry. Brad has been researching these issues for 30 years and over the last 10 years has been undertaking detailed research on koalas in hinterland forests of north-east NSW. This ground-breaking research has led the way in helping us to better understand the status of koalas in our forests, and the relative impacts of disturbance from harvesting (little impact with current sustainable practices) compared to wildfires (substantial impact, especially from repeat wildfires).
Dr Fabiano Ximenes, Forest Carbon, discusses his forest carbon research in relation to forestry. Fabiano has been researching these issues for 25 years and has undertaken detailed research focusing on the life cycle of carbon in forests, wood products and bioenergy across NSW. This extensive and detailed research has provided a better understanding of carbon cycles in forests (with scientific evidence that sustainably managed forests can reduce carbon in the atmosphere), the benefit of carbon storage in wood products and the benefits to the environment of utilising biomass residues in a climate smart way.
Nick Milham
Director | Forestry & Hunting Research | Forest Science
nick.milham@dpi.nsw.gov.au