- Resilient Forests
The Resilient Forests research programme aims to ensure the long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability of forestry by creating forests that are more resilient to future uncertainty in a changing world. Resilient forests are sustainable, productive and healthy, and should represent a low-risk asset in a world experiencing changing climate, political and market volatility, and changing social norms.
The programme focuses on radiata pine and aims to de-risk and increase the productivity of mainstream New Zealand forest industry production systems. It is managed by Scion.
Programme manager: Peter Clinton
- A six-year programme (2020-2026)
- Building on work done in the Growing Confidence in Future Forests (GCFF) programme and Healthy Trees Healthy Future (HTHF) programmes
- Two major research programmes have split out from Resilient Forests: Tree Root Microbiome Programme and Scion’s Transforming Tree Phenotyping programme
- Funding from Scion’s Strategic Science Investment Fund and Forest Growers Levy Trust
- Comprises medium and short-term projects under three main research areas:
- Managing risk and uncertainty
- Productivity and wood quality
- Enhancing resilience/management of pests and diseases.
The Resilient Forests Programme has three closely inter-linked research areas:
Managing risk and uncertainty – understanding public perceptions of plantation forestry; understanding forest companies’ social and environmental activities and the way these are reported to the public. Climate change adaptation and adaptive management through a portfolio approach of forest management options
Productivity and wood quality – understanding GxExS interactions, new approaches to tree growth modelling, soil and site management, and better understanding the management factors influencing wood quality. Exploring the forest microbiome
Enhancing resilience/management of pests and diseases – growth impacts, epidemiology of common foliar diseases (red needle cast and dothistroma) and new treatment options, automonous monitoring systems for . ????
Managing risk and uncertainty – understanding public perceptions of plantation forestry; understanding forest companies’ social and environmental activities and the way these are reported to the public. Climate change adaptation and adaptive management through a portfolio approach of forest management options
Productivity and wood quality – understanding GxExS interactions, new approaches to tree growth modelling, soil and site management, and better understanding the management factors influencing wood quality. Exploring the forest microbiome
Enhancing resilience/management of pests and diseases – growth impacts, epidemiology of common foliar diseases (red needle cast and dothistroma) and new treatment options, automonous monitoring systems for . ????
Explore Resilient Forests workstreams:
Resilient Forests News
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
Modelling an intricate disease life-cycle
Research to understand the fundamentals of the red needle cast (RNC) life cycle has quantified the climatic drivers of the disease. A Scion team, led
Advances in autonomous forest measurement
Laser scanning technology which accurately describes and measures – or ‘phenotypes’-individual trees is advancing rapidly. Forest managers and tree breeders are keen to adopt automated
Related searchable documents and reports
| Title | Date | Report Number | Author | Link | hf:doc_categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Pinus radiata holobiome | February 17, 2025 | RFP-TN017 | K Walker, L Armstrong, M Eagle, S Shwe, S Wakelin (Scion) | resilient-forests-public | |
| Exploring the social responsibility efforts of the forestry industry in New Zealand | November 26, 2024 | FGR_RFP_SP028 | G Villamor, L Wallace | resilient-forests-public | |
| Corporate social responsibility: Current state and future opportunities in the forest sector | November 26, 2024 | FGR_RFP_SP027 | G Villamor, L Wallace | resilient-forests-public | |
| Climate change, risk perceptions and barriers to adaptation among forest growers in New Zealand | November 26, 2024 | FGR_RFP_SP026 | G Villamor, P Clinton, S J Wakelin | resilient-forests-public | |
| Climate change adaptation behaviour of forest growers in New Zealand: an application of protection motivation theory | November 26, 2024 | FGR_RFP_SP025 | G Villamor et al | resilient-forests-public | |
| Capture and extraction of phenotypic traits from novel high-density point clouds | December 1, 2021 | RFP-T014 | A Wuraola, D De Silva, G Pearse, H Estarija, P Massam, R Hartley, S Davidson, S Jayathunga | resilient-forests-public | |
| Accelerator Trial Update 2021 | December 1, 2021 | RFP-T015 | S Klinger, S Smaill, Y Dickinson | resilient-forests-public | |
| Prototype Socio-Economic Scenarios for Climate change Strategic Management | December 1, 2021 | RFP-T016 | A Dunningham, G Villamor | resilient-forests-public | |
| Risk perception and climate change adaptation: initial survey results using Protection Motivation Theory approach | June 24, 2021 | RFP-T010 | A Dunningham, G Villamor, S J Wakelin | resilient-forests-public | |
| Towards quantitative analysis of social risk in forest planning | June 24, 2021 | RFP-T012 | A Dunningham, A Grant, G Villamor, K Bayne, S Klinger, S Wakelin, T West | resilient-forests-public | |
| Social Extension of Quantitative Portfolio Framework | June 24, 2021 | RFP-T013 | A Grant, S J Wakelin, S Klinger | resilient-forests-public | |
| Identifying the key pathosystem components of red needle cast | June 15, 2021 | RFP-T011 | D Lane, E McLay, R Turner, S Fraser | resilient-forests-public | |
| Enterprise Risk management framework | May 24, 2021 | RFP-T009 | A Dunningham, G Villamor | resilient-forests-public | |
| Understanding spatial drivers for Red Needle Cast: An East Coast pilot study | December 19, 2020 | RFP-TN009 | A Tan, C Somchit, E Leonardo, G Pearse, S Fraser | resilient-forests-public | |
| Scanning other species with Discbot | December 17, 2020 | RFP-TN007 | J Lee, M Riddle | resilient-forests-public | |
| Mapping perceptions of forest management and the effect on social acceptability | October 7, 2020 | RFP-O01 | Scion | resilient-forests-public | |
| Use of hyperspectral imagery to predict foliar nitrogen, phosphorus and photosynthetic capacity in radiata pine | September 26, 2020 | RFP-T004 | E Leonardo, H Bown, H Buddenbaum, H Estarija, L Wright, M Gomez-Gallego, M Watt, P Massam, P Zarco-Tejada, R Hartley | resilient-forests-public | |
| Nursery automation and phenotyping: final report | September 26, 2020 | RFP-T006 | A Tan, G Pearse, H Dungey, H Estarija, P Massam | resilient-forests-public | |
| Accelerator Trial series update – treatment outcomes | September 17, 2020 | RFP-TN002a | S Smaill | resilient-forests-public | |
| Mapping perceptions of forest management impacts and the effect on social acceptability | September 17, 2020 | RFP-TN003 | A Grant, K Bayne, M McCarthy, S Makore | resilient-forests-public | |
| Review of existing approaches for modelling wood properties models | September 17, 2020 | RFP-TN004 | B Nanayakkara, J Harrington, M Riddell | resilient-forests-public | |
| PQSim: Architecture and Applicability | September 17, 2020 | RFP-TN005 | B Nanayakkara, J Harrington | resilient-forests-public | |
| Towards quantitative analysis of social risk in forest planning | September 17, 2020 | RFP-TN006 | A Dunningham, A Grant, G Villamor, K Bayne, S Klinger, S Wakelin, T West | resilient-forests-public | |
| Predicting Estate Productivity using Area-Based Phenotyping and Machine Learning | July 7, 2020 | RFP-T007 | D Pont, H Dungey, M Bomrun, S Husheer, S Papps | resilient-forests-public | |
| Modelling and quantifying needle disease impacts | June 17, 2020 | RFP-TN008 | A Tan, G Pearse, S Fraser | resilient-forests-public | |
| Red Needle Cast monitoring framework using high resolution satellite imagery | June 16, 2020 | RFP-T008 | E Leonardo, G Pearse, H Estarija, S Fraser | resilient-forests-public | |
| Identifying Key Parameter for RNC Severity Modelling and Prediction | April 26, 2020 | RFP-T005 | A Tan, C Somchit, N Williams, S Fraser | resilient-forests-public | |
| Monitoring the seasonal growth impact of foliar pathogens – an ideal sensor network | April 20, 2020 | RFP-T003 | A Tan, C Somchit, D Sellier, G Pearse, L Wright, N Graham, N Williams, R Hartley, S Fraser, V Cotterill | resilient-forests-public | |
| Review of literature on the development of climatic and socio-economic scenarios for New Zealand forestry | April 20, 2020 | RFP-T001 | A Dunningham, A Jones, A Wreford, G Villamor and T West, N Melia | resilient-forests-public | |
| Needs of stakeholders and state-of-the-art in tree and forest growth simulation | April 20, 2020 | RFP-T002 | C Todoroki, D Point, Y Lin | resilient-forests-public | |
| A data catalogue for developing prototype individual-tree growth simulator and specifications for future data collection | April 20, 2020 | RFP-TN001 | A Tan, Y Lin | resilient-forests-public | |
| FGR Nursery Automation: Interim update | November 20, 2019 | RFP-T000 | A Tan, G Pearse, H Estarija, P Massam | resilient-forests-public | |
| Water Quality Monitoring and Water Quality Indicators for Plantation Forests | August 29, 2017 | ES005 | B Baillie, M Heaphy | resilient-forests-public | |
| Needle Cast Research Index | August 23, 2014 | 00 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Incursion Response Research Index | August 14, 2014 | 00 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Testing a Modelling Approach to Landslide Erosion in New Zealand – Expanding the Model and Validation | October 29, 2013 | ESTN-024 | D Harrison, M Kimberley | resilient-forests-public | |
| An Overview of Databases and Models used to Monitor and Report on Freshwater in New Zealand | August 29, 2013 | ES018 | A Brockerhoff, B Baillie, D Harrison | resilient-forests-public | |
| Future Forest Erosion Species Trial – Final Report | August 29, 2013 | ES019 | C Phillips, M Marden | resilient-forests-public | |
| A Framework and Portal for Planted Forest Sustainability Reports | August 29, 2013 | ES020 | B Hock, T Payne | resilient-forests-public | |
| The Effect of Extreme Rainfall Events on Marginal Land across NZ under Current and Future Climate | June 29, 2013 | ESTN-018 | D Palmer, M Kimberley | resilient-forests-public | |
| Functional Forests within NZ – Which species should we plant? | January 29, 2013 | ESTN-017 | G Coker, K Bayne | resilient-forests-public | |
| Remote Sensing Biodiversity in Plantation Stands with LiDAR | January 29, 2013 | ESTN-022 | D Henley, J Kerr, M Ulyshen, S Pawson, T Adams, T Paul | resilient-forests-public | |
| Developing a Forest Investment Finder for NZ | August 29, 2012 | ES015 | B Hock, D Harrison, D Palmer, J Turner, L Barry, M Kimberley, P Hall | resilient-forests-public | |
| Value of Avoided Soil Erosion and Policy Measures to Encourage Afforestation in NZ | August 29, 2012 | ES016 | D Harrison, L Barry, R Yao, U Paragahawewa | resilient-forests-public | |
| A Mechanism for Enhancing Biodiversity in New Zealand | August 29, 2012 | ES017 | D Harrison, L Barry, R Seaton, R Yao | resilient-forests-public | |
| A Structured Approach for Visualisations of Indicators | June 29, 2012 | ESTN-023 | B Hock | resilient-forests-public | |
| Testing a modelling apporach to Landslide Erosion in New Zealand | May 29, 2012 | ESTN-021 | D Harrison, L Garrett, M Kimberley | resilient-forests-public | |
| Outcomes of the Sustainability Indicators Workshop | October 29, 2011 | ESTN-020 | Outcomes of the Sustainability Indicators Workshop | resilient-forests-public | |
| Future Forest Erosion Species Trial – Progress Report | August 29, 2011 | ES013 | C Phillips, M Marden | resilient-forests-public | |
| Design and Establishment of New Experimental Trials in Future Forests | August 29, 2011 | ES014 | P Clinton, P TSH | resilient-forests-public | |
| Supporting Threatened Species in Exotic Planted Forests | June 29, 2011 | ESTN-016 | C Maunder, J Turner, R Scarpa, R Yao, T Barnard | resilient-forests-public | |
| Developing Meaning into Visualisations of Sustainable Forestry in New Zealand | February 23, 2011 | ESTN-015 | B Hock, M Gahegan, S Swaffield | resilient-forests-public | |
| Visualisations of New Zealand Forestry for Sustainability: A Literature Survey of Key Topics | August 29, 2010 | ES007 | B Hock | resilient-forests-public | |
| Adding Value to New Zealand Forests | August 29, 2010 | ES008 | H Spence, K Crawford, T Barnard | resilient-forests-public | |
| International Perspectives of New Zealand’s Sustainable Forestry | August 29, 2010 | ES011 | B Hock, S Swaffield | resilient-forests-public | |
| Determining Priorities for Sustainability Research on New Zealand Forestry | August 29, 2010 | ES012 | B Hock, P Clinton | resilient-forests-public | |
| Indicators of Sustainable Forestry: Prioritising Further Research | July 29, 2010 | ESTN-009 | B Hock | resilient-forests-public | |
| Giving National Context to International Indicators: New Zealand forest industry and territorial authority views on Montréal Process Criteria and Indicators | July 29, 2010 | ESTN-010 | B Hock, T Barnard | resilient-forests-public | |
| Community indicators for sustainable forest management in New Zealand | July 29, 2010 | ESTN-011 | B Hock, T Barnard | resilient-forests-public | |
| Contribution of Insect Biodiversity to Wood Decomposition | June 29, 2010 | ESTN-005 | S M Pawson | resilient-forests-public | |
| The Value of Recreation in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua | April 29, 2010 | ESTN-007 | B Dhakal, J Turner, R Yao, T Barnard | resilient-forests-public | |
| Positioning Future Forests: Identifying areas that could benefit from the establishment of functional forests | April 29, 2010 | ESTN-013 | B Hock, D Palmer, H Jones, P Clinton, T Payn | resilient-forests-public | |
| Economic Value of Recreation in Whakarewarewa Forest | August 29, 2009 | ES006 | B Dhakal, J Turner, R Yao, T Barnard | resilient-forests-public | |
| Giving Regional Context to International Sustainable Forestry Indicators | August 29, 2009 | ES009 | H Spence, K Crawford, T Barnard | resilient-forests-public | |
| How will an ETS affect land use and planted forest management in NZ? | August 29, 2009 | ES010 | T Adams | resilient-forests-public | |
| Spatial Environmental Datasets | July 29, 2009 | ESTN-003 | D Palmer, H Jones | resilient-forests-public | |
| Recent Findings on the Environmental Impacts of Planted Forests | July 29, 2009 | ESTN-004 | B Hock, H Jones, M Watt, S Pawson, S Smaille | resilient-forests-public | |
| Systems Thinking Workshop on the Emissions Trading Scheme | June 29, 2009 | ESTN-001 | B Cavana, J Turner, T Adams | resilient-forests-public | |
| Economic Simulation of Plantation Forestry | June 29, 2009 | ESTN-002 | J Turner, T Adams | resilient-forests-public | |
| Economic Impact of Cyclaneusma Needle-cast in NZ | May 1, 2009 | 04 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Needle Diseases of Radiata Pine in NZ : A Review | August 1, 2008 | 07 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Modelling the efficacy of different sampling strategies for estimating disease levels and detecting the spread of new pests | March 1, 2008 | 01 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Validation of the Spraytrans Model for Prediction of Long-Range Pesticide Spray Drift : Progress Report | June 1, 2007 | 02 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Optimising spray application efficiency for Dothistroma control – persistence of different formulations | January 1, 2007 | 01 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Improving predictions of pest mortality prior to pest eradication operations: Part II : The influence of aphagostimulant on the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki | May 1, 2006 | 03 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Improving predictions of pest mortality prior to pest eradication operations: Part III : The influence of the host plant on the susceptibility of the painted apple moth to a viral pathogen | May 1, 2006 | 04 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Optimising spray application efficiency for Dothistroma control characterisation of spray formulation properties | January 1, 2006 | 02 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Pine Needle Blight | January 1, 2006 | 06 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Foliar Diseases of Pine – The NZ Experience | January 1, 2006 | 08 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Improving predictions of pest mortality prior to pest eradication operations: The influence of host species and provenance on the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki | June 1, 2005 | 05 | resilient-forests-public | ||
| Cyclaneusma needle-cast – current knowledge and knowledge gaps | January 1, 2005 | 05 | resilient-forests-public |
