Why Plan
Careful planning is the essential starting point for farm tree planting projects. It helps avoid costly mistakes and provides a strategy to achieve the maximum benefits from investment. Forestry is long term and mistakes can have long term consequences.

With forestry investments good planning reduces risks and helps achieve maximum financial returns. Good planning is equally important for maximising non-commercial benefits from tree planting.

Getting the focus right
The objectives of any tree planting project must be clearly identified at the outset.

If you are considering planting for the first time significant areas, your planning area should be the entire property. A fresh start assessment of the suitability of different land areas for different landuses should be done. This process will identify the most appropriate location of tree plantings for shelter systems and plantations.

Objectives
The objectives for tree plantings will vary for different areas. They might include commercial woodlots of sufficient size and age distribution to provide long-term income diversification on a large scale. They will likely include shelter on developed land used for intensive grazing and winter feed cropping and for lambing shelter or general stock shelter in more isolated areas. Timber planting for on farm use is a common objective as is planting for soil conservation or erosion control in gullies or slip areas. Soil rehabilitation is a logical reason for forest establishment on degraded high country rangelands. Plantings may also be undertaken for wildlife habitat or to create attractive setting for accommodation or recreation areas. Planting for scrub weed control is another important objective in farm forestry.

Compatibility with other uses
Full consideration needs to be given to the other values of the land which may constrain or influence the location of tree planting. Some high country areas have important natural values which have been identified in protected natural area (PNA) surveys. Landscape features such as rock outcrops or special views may require protection. The effect of location of new plantings on the requirements for the control of wilding tree spread onto down wind areas is outlined in the FRI management guidelines for wilding trees.

Attention to the location and design of new plantings is required to enhance landscape quality as well as practical benefits.

Planning-some suggestions
A recent aerial photo plan and a land use capability map to identify soil type and land types are very useful to locate the boundaries of potential land use areas.

Commercial forestry areas can be assessed on the basis of the adequacy of rainfall, soils and shelter and the likely costs associated with site preparation (e.g. weed control, ripping, fencing etc) access roading and harvesting costs.

Farm development opportunities should be appraised at the same time so that balanced consideration can be given to the best strategy for the whole property. Forestry land use development should complement other land use objectives. For example, often land which is barely economic for grazing or is likely to revert under current grazing management is highly suited for forestry.

A FRI/forest farm estate computer model is now available to help identify and evaluate the economic performance of the whole farm development projects.

The model identifies investment inputs, analyses cashflows and investment returns over the specified term of the project and is an excellent aid to financial planning.

A high country forest farm check list
The value of planning is in thinking thins through. The checklist is intended to identify things to be considered. An aerial photo or a landuse capability map are extremely useful aids to planning.

The checklist may look daunting but a forestry professional will handle all this.

1. Plan preparation
Consultation inputs - District Council Landcorp/ DoC/MoF Professional assistance by forestry planning consultant and or landscape architect

Estimated cost of plan preparation: $_______

2. Establish plan objectives
Whether pure forestry, forestry and farming, farming/amenity/soil conservation/weed control or real estate enhancement. Different sites or localities are likely to have different management objectives.

3. Plan content

Identifying areas for planting. This is carried out on the basis of suitability for forestry, profitability, good landscape design, and protection of other values such as nature conservation etc.

On steep hill country it is essential to ensure roading and harvest access are practical.

Identify valued conservation/protection areas. Specify management requirements and performance standards to achieve the protection goals.

Identify areas physically suited for planting (with reference to exposure, terrain, harvesting access, roading access and weed cover).

Check compatibilities with other landuses/values. For example, fire hazard, wilding tree control, scrub weed control management, other productive landuses, water yield and quality, recreation and amenity objectives, shelter and shade effects.

Land use design considerations. For example, compatibility in terms of scale/pattern/colour/texture and amenity.

Identify the best species regime options for each planting area. the regime should specify: - Species (genetic qualities); - Any particular site preparation requirements for the species in question; - Seedling type and genetic quality; - Seedling numbers/hectare (spacing); - Timing and targets of thinning and pruning operations where applicable; - Target tree crop objectives with crop tree dimensions, length and diameter of clearwood butt logs; - Scheduled harvest age and log grades estimates;

Forestry operations and costings
Identify and realistically cost all forestry operation requirements for each regime on each site covering:

- Access formation and fire ponds $____ - Land preparation $____ - Wild animal control and fencing $____ - Establishment (planting, weed control) $____ - Tending (thinning, pruning) $____ - Wilding tree control $____ - Harvesting including roading and land preparation. The type of harvest method applicable needs to be identified $____ - Fire control plan and fire insurance. Include fire alarm procedures, fire breaks, pond maintenance $____ - Management structure and overheads. $____ Project administration; legal and accounting. Maintenance and contingency costs; fencing/roading/fire pond/weeds/wild animals. Forest management costs; inspections/reporting/quality control/supervision.

Economic evaluations. Model operation and overhead costs, growth/yields/$ returns. Estimate Internal Rate of Return on representative regimes.

- Computer growth models are available for modeling log yields and grades for various radiata regimes. Computer growth models also exist for prediction of Douglas fir yields. For other species projections of yields and log values can be only based on well considered estimates by experienced forestry consultants, or on generalised locally developed computer growth models.

- An integrated computer based economic model (FRI Agroforesty Estate Model) is available to assess forestry development and farm development strategies in terms of cost inputs/yearly cash flow predictions and overall economic performance.

- Cost inputs and log value inputs used in the economic evaluations should be based on realistic present day $ values.

An annual CASHFLOW model should be developed for any project to allow for projection of yearly costs and revenues, and to allow monitoring of project performance.

Wilding tree control spread. Prepare a plan for wilding tree spread control and estimate costs of the work.

The cost of good planning is money well spent and is the best risk reduction insurance for forestry projects.

Forestry planning and operational work is normally undertaken by forestry professionals. Lists of consultants, managers and contractors are available form your nearest MoF office.

References

Belton M.C. 1992 Investing in high country forestry Ministry of Forestry, Christchurch

Belton M.C. 1991 Options for forestry as a landuse in the Mackenzie RLMP area. Ministry of Forestry, Christchurch.

Ledgard N.J., Crozier E.R. 1991 Guidelines for the control and the management of wilding trees. FRI Report FWE/91/4