- Precision Silviculture Programme
The Nursery workstream aims to deliver prototype systems that overcome key bottlenecks in the tree nursery production system.
The scope includes both containerised and non-containerised nurseries and includes seed sowing through to deployment to the forest.
- Improve the quality of tree stocks delivered to forest planting sites, leading to improved survival and growth, and added value to the forest estate.
- Deliver environmental benefits from reduced nursery herbicide use.
- Future proof nurseries against increasing restrictions on herbicide use.
- Provide improved data for management purposes, both in the nursery and in the forest.
- Provide greater consistency and predictability in tree stock production through less reliance on manual labour working in challenging outdoor environments. With less dependence on manual labour, the ability to scale up nursery production to meet increases in planting will be enhanced. The new roles created will be higher skilled machine operator positions working in improved conditions.
There are important interfaces between the Nursery and Planting & Establishment workstreams as well as the Tissue Culture of 21st Century Partnership Project (outside of this programme).
The following activity areas are part of the business case for change in the workstream. Within each of these areas we have multiple projects.
Review and Benchmark: Supply chain simulation for benchmarking and modeling alternatives
Automated Growing Operations: Bare Root Establishment
Automated Growing Operations: Autonomous Tree Stock Monitoring Platform
Automated Growing Operations: Mechanised Lifting in Bare Root Nursery
Automated De Plugging, Grading and Packing System
Stool Bed Optimisation and Mini Plugs
Tree stock and Box Tracking
Review and Benchmark: Supply chain simulation for benchmarking and modeling alternatives
Automated Growing Operations: Bare Root Establishment
Automated Growing Operations: Autonomous Tree Stock Monitoring Platform
Automated Growing Operations: Mechanised Lifting in Bare Root Nursery
Automated De Plugging, Grading and Packing System
Stool Bed Optimisation and Mini Plugs
Tree stock and Box Tracking
If you are interested in learning more about the projects underway or how you can become more involved in the programme. Please contact Claire Stewart, Programme Manager.
Explore other Precision Silviculture Programme workstreams:
Precision Silviculture Programme News
Testing hydrogel to extend the planting season
Hydrogels which retain moisture around tree roots can aid seedling establishment and growth, and potentially extend the planting season beyond its traditional winter window. A
Using drones for precision release-spraying
Possible applications of UAVs in forestry are increasing at pace, and precision spot-spraying using this technology is already past proof-of-concept stage. Working together with Pan
Tree box tracking app for nurseries
A phone-based app to track trees from the nursery to the planting site is well on the way to being ready for use. The app,
Related searchable documents and reports
| Title | Date | Report Number | Author | Link | hf:doc_categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology Adoption Human Factors: Operational Lessons Learned M-Planter | February 19, 2025 | PSP-T028 | Brionny Hooper & Richard Parker (Scion) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Mechanical Planting Options in New Zealand: PlantmaX | February 17, 2025 | PSP-TN004 | C Rolando (Scion), J Palmer (Forme Consulting), S Wright (Pan Pac Forest Products), Z Chen (Forme Consulting) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Silviculture Micro_Innovation Challenge : High Stump Manual Thinning | November 28, 2024 | PSP-TN003 | Tim Petro | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Viability of Trichoderma Conidia in Nanocellulose Hydrogel | October 31, 2024 | PSP-T025 | Dr Helen Whelan | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Individual Tree Data Value Project – Phase 2 | October 1, 2024 | PSP-T024 | J Palmer, Z Chen – Forme Consulting Group | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Extended planting season trial using hydrogels : Rayonier Matariki Maramarua Forest – Final Report June 2023 | October 1, 2024 | PSP-T023 | C Rolando (Scion), E Vili, K Fleet, K Yallop (Rayonier Matariki Forests), R Schoonderwoerd | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Current Practices & Challenges in NZ Thinning Operations: Results of a Survey and Workshop in 2023 | October 1, 2024 | PSP-T022 | L Holt & Y Dickinson (Scion) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Review of fertiliser and nutrient enhancers applied in nursery or at planting (April 2024) | October 1, 2024 | PSP-T021 | Steven Dovey (Scion) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| GOVOR Forest Nursery Trial & Evaluation May 2024 (FGR372) | October 1, 2024 | PSP-T020 | Jacob Kelley – Tui Technologies | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| PSP Pruning Injury Report- Analysis IRIS Data 2018-2022 (December 2023) | October 1, 2024 | PSP-T019 | Brionny Hooper, Christine Dodunski (Scion), Richard Parker | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Review of Planting Stock Quality & Performance – Feb 2024 | October 1, 2024 | PSP-TR005 | Jacqui Aimers | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| UAV Release Spraying – Results from operational UAV trials | October 1, 2024 | PSP-TN002 | D De Silva, J Henry, J Nairn, P Massam, R Hartley, W Yorston (Scion) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| UAV Survival Assessments Report : RGB Ortho-plotting | April 24, 2024 | PSP-T014 | J Emmens, R Hartley (Scion) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| UAV Survival Assessments : SOP Series – Best Practice Guidelines for UAV Forest Operations | April 24, 2024 | PSP-T015 | Jacob Emmens (as part of TFF UAV Survival Assessments project) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| UAV Survival Assessments : SOP Series – Best Practice Guidelines for UAV Forest Operations | April 24, 2024 | PSP-T016 | Whanarau Edmonds (as part of TFF UAV Survival Assessments project) | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| UAV Survival Assessments Report : the value of wall-to-wall site capture | April 24, 2024 | PSP-T017 | Whanarau Edmonds and Robin Hartley | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| UAV Survival Assessments Report Enhancing Survival Surveys : Multispectral vs RGB UAV Imaging | April 24, 2024 | PSP-T018 | Blake Singleton, Robin Hartley, Sam Davidson | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Hydrogel Trials Nanocellulose Hydrogels & Soil Water Retention Feb2024 | March 18, 2024 | PSP-TN001 | Don White & Carol Rolando, Jen Owens | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Battery Powered Chainsaws in Waste Thinning | December 19, 2023 | PSP-T012 | Rob Prebble Consulting & Scion Rotorua/Christchurch | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Economic review of the M-Planter in New Zealand | September 27, 2023 | PSP-T008 | Various | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Seeding selection using computer vision | July 10, 2023 | PSP-T009 | Dr Brian Russell | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Final Report : Investigation of extending the planting season into late March using hydrogels and growth promoters – Final Report 12 months | June 28, 2023 | PSP-T007 | ALloyd, G Coker, J Moore, KFleet, Project Team : C Ford, S Hill, S Smaill, T Stovold | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Investigation of extending the planting season into late March using hydrogels and growth promoters | May 5, 2023 | PSP-T001 | A Lloyd, C Ford, G Coker, K Fleet, S Hill & J Moore (Timberlands), S Smaill, T Stovold | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Economics of Pruning Radiata Report Dec 2022 | May 2, 2023 | PSP-T005 | Ngahere Resources Ltd | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Time and Motion Study of Battery Powered Pruning Devices in Lake Taupo Forest – Final Report | March 14, 2023 | PSP-T004 | J Palmer & Z Chen | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Economics of pruning radiata | November 29, 2022 | PSP-T002 | G Buchanan, Ngahere Resources Ltd | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Manual and Mechanised Pruning Technologies: A review of the literature | October 28, 2022 | PSP-TR001 | Fergus Rural, Tim Petro | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Mechanised Thin to Waste and Production Thinning Technologies: an International and Domestic Review | October 28, 2022 | PSP-TR002 | Awdon Technologies, Don Scott | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Precision Planting Technology Scan | October 28, 2022 | PSP-TR003 | Fergus Rural, Tim Petro | precision-silviculture-programme-public | |
| Modern nursery technology for containerised and bare rooted production systems | October 28, 2022 | PSP-TR004 | A Lloyd, and G Coker – Scion, B Nanayakkara, C Ford, S Klinger | precision-silviculture-programme-public |
