Pilatus
Member
A lot of well meaning members of society keep on about why more trees should be planted on the planet , I have know problem with their idealistic views but how do the economics of tree planting /forestry stack up?
My thread title must be very hard to answer as their are quite a few different situations as to what age the wood land is on your farm/estate.
I guess if "Dad" has not bothered with managing the wood land for years there may be some nice trees ,that have some value in them that if harvested (cut down) by "Sons" new management will sell for good money if up to the spec of the market. So those trees may bring in a profit after costs of abstraction have been deducted. But as trees are so slow growing would you as the "Son" take down a few mature trees each year,or does one go for a quick profit and cut down as much mature/valuable timber as one can to make a quick profit , and sell some more mature timber in say another 15 /20 yrs time. Mean while "the Son"will have replanted or rely on the self regeneration of trees after the first cutting, to be growing for his next generation.
From what I gather when all said and done, farm /estate forestry is almost a break even enterprise , even with the inclusion of grants available for establishing woodland .
How many acres of woodland would you expect 2 full time foresters to look after ,the woodland consisting of mainly hardwood planted in the 1920's ,all on banks ?
My thread title must be very hard to answer as their are quite a few different situations as to what age the wood land is on your farm/estate.
I guess if "Dad" has not bothered with managing the wood land for years there may be some nice trees ,that have some value in them that if harvested (cut down) by "Sons" new management will sell for good money if up to the spec of the market. So those trees may bring in a profit after costs of abstraction have been deducted. But as trees are so slow growing would you as the "Son" take down a few mature trees each year,or does one go for a quick profit and cut down as much mature/valuable timber as one can to make a quick profit , and sell some more mature timber in say another 15 /20 yrs time. Mean while "the Son"will have replanted or rely on the self regeneration of trees after the first cutting, to be growing for his next generation.
From what I gather when all said and done, farm /estate forestry is almost a break even enterprise , even with the inclusion of grants available for establishing woodland .
How many acres of woodland would you expect 2 full time foresters to look after ,the woodland consisting of mainly hardwood planted in the 1920's ,all on banks ?
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