Forestry Corporation of NSW has started its 2022 replanting program, with three million seedlings set to be replanted into 2,400 hectares of Bathurst pine plantations previously harvested.

Forestry Corporation’s Silviculture Manager Mike Freeman said this winter’s planting program is a vital part in the organisation’s operations.

“The forestry cycle means that for every tree we harvest to supply renewable timber, we need to plant another to take its place,” Mr Freeman said.

“The planting program work engages several businesses and some thirty contracted planting staff, so the program is also an important step in supporting regional employment and economies.

“Each seedling is planted by hand and an experienced planter can plant around 2,000 seedlings a day.

“Through their efforts we are rebuilding plantations previously harvested for timber, including Mount David, Canobolas and Vulcan State Forests.”

This year’s seedling crop was predominantly grown in Forestry Corporation’s Tumut and Grafton production nurseries.

Forestry Corporation has around 230,000 hectares of pine plantations in NSW and in normal years produces enough timber to construct a quarter of the homes built in Australia each year.

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