With anticipated future innovations, this type of technology could be used to support bushfire risk management, improve the economic value of the nation’s timber resource, and overcome occupational health and safety risks. The recently completed report, A review of current mechanical & robotic tree pruning equipment, was developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Forest Research Institute (FRI) and …
A 6.2m electric drone for forest thinning
Airforestry has been in stealth mode since the start of 2020. But now they finally reveal their pioneering technology for forest management. “We have been working in secret for almost two years and already have paying customers among Europe’s largest forest owners. But now it’s time for our public launch. We want to tell you about our concept, which is …
Scientific research station marks 60th anniversary
In New Zealand, a Central Otago scientific research station with a globally revered reputation is marking its 60th anniversary. NIWA’s Lauder Atmospheric Research Station is almost exactly halfway between the equator and the South Pole, about 36 km from Alexandra, and deliberately situated in a remote, unpopulated area to take advantage of the clean air and clear skies. It is …
New Forests enters agreement for sale
New Forests, a global investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies, last Friday announced Mitsui & Co., Ltd (Mitsui) and Nomura Holdings, Inc (Nomura), have entered into an agreement to purchase a 100% shareholding of New Forests. The agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval and expected to be completed by December 2022, will see Mitsui become …
First high-resolution global vegetation height map
Using an artificial neural network, researchers at ETH Zurich have created the first high-resolution global vegetation height map for 2020 from satellite images. This map could provide key information for fighting climate change and species extinction, as well as for sustainable regional development planning. Last year marked the beginning of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This initiative is aimed …
NZ Forest Nursery Growers elect new president
At their recent AGM the New Zealand Forest Nursery Growers Assn elected Peter Harington as the incoming president. Peter manages Rotorua Forest Nursery. The NZFNGA look after the interests of the country’s forest nursery sector including; Govt. submissions, training, research, etc. The association holds an annual conference, AGM and technical nursery tour. Peter said the association is currently making submissions …
Autonomous drone swarm flies through forest
An algorithm guides the drones to avoid collision, fly efficiently and as a team. This is part of an experiment led by scientists from Zhejiang University in China. The drone swarm is the first to successfully fly in an uncontrolled environment.
Project to TRIGger more Victorian tree plantings
An exciting new forestry project has been launched to support the integration of more trees on farms in Victoria – helping the state achieve its net zero carbon goals by 2050. Overseen by Forestry Australia, the Trials Review, Information and Genetics (TRIG) project aims to improve information pathways to assist the expansion of farm forestry in Victoria. TRIG Project Steering …
Shopify purchases carbon offsets from DroneSeed
Reforestation company DroneSeed has announced its largest sale of offsets to date to Shopify, a leading provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, which is on a mission to reverse climate change. As part of the post-fire reforestation, native trees of multiple species will remove 50,000 tonnes as they grow over the next century on a legally protected site. A …
2021 NZ tree stock sales & forest planting
Following the main winter planting season, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) undertakes an annual survey of tree stocks sold by commercial forestry nurseries in New Zealand. The results are aggregated to produce estimates of total national sales, and then modelled to estimate the total area of planting by species and species group. The commercial nursery survey results just released …