- Precision Silviculture Programme
Home | Research Programmes | Precision Silviculture Programme
The Precision Silviculture Programme (PSP) is a partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries and the forest industry led by Forest Growers Research Ltd.
- Partners: MPI, Forest Growers Research, Forest Growers Levy Trust, 12 forest companies, and several forest nurseries and manufacturers.
- Programme start: 22 March 2022 and duration of 7 years.
- MPI funding over 7 years: $10,200,000.
- Industry funding over 7 years: $15,300,000.
Nursery: To deliver prototype units to overcome bottlenecks in tree nursery bare root and containerised production systems.
Planting: To deliver production-ready prototypes supporting mechanised planting, extending the planting season, and tools for increasing planting precision and reducing chemical use.
Pruning: To deliver prototype units that improve the safety and productivity of pruning operations in the forest while reducing costs.
Thinning: To develop equipment and techniques supporting cost effective mechanised thinning operations that reduce reliance on manual labour and create a safer working environment.
Data & Engagement: Maximise the opportunities from data collected through precision activities by implementing standards, good governance practices and unlocking the value of interconnected data. Engagement with Māori stakeholders to identify and co-design ways to maximise uptake of Programme outputs and learnings by Māori.

Precision Silviculture Programme News

IUFRO 1.01.04 Tree Establishment and Early Growth Dynamics Conference being held in Rotorua 17-20 March 2025.
Scion will be hosting the IUFRO – International Union of Forest Research Organisations 1.01.04 conference in March this year titled, Achieving Forest establishment success at

How can AI assist in Pathogen Detection?
The FGR Precision Silviculture Programme is always looking at how to utilise digital technologies to improve outcomes and the Nursery workstream is no different. FGR

57th International Symposium on Forestry Mechanisation (FORMEC), June 9-13 2025, Joensuu, Finland
FORMEC 2025 is calling again the family of forest technologists and other friends of sustainable forestry to get together in Joensuu, Finland. The theme of