One of the many initiatives in the 1986 Victorian Timber Industry Strategy was an investigation of the feasibility of thinning Eucalyptus sieiberi (Silvertop) regrowth stands in East Gippsland for value-added products, job creation and enhancement of future sawlog production. The extensive regrowth stands originated from both wildfire and timber harvesting. In October 1986, a report (51 pages plus appendices) on this subject by the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (DCFL), CSIRO Divisions of Forestry and Chemical and Wood Technology, and the Victorian Sawmillers Association was released. The report recommended that full-scale operational trials be undertaken in both young and advanced regrowth, and on sawing and drying of small logs from thinned stands. It also recommended a 3-year multi-disciplinary research program be undertaken by DCFL and the two Divisions of CSIRO. This focus of this research program was to:

• Investigate the environmental impacts of thinning including effects on flora and fauna values and fire protection considerations,
• Investigate the growth response of Silvertop to thinning at various ages over a range of representative sites,
• Debarking trials with a focus on development of a suitable felling and debarking machine, and
• Investigate the pulping properties of young Silvertop to determine if the thinning’s could command a premium price.

At the conclusion of this research program, an Executive Summary of the findings was released by the Department of Conservation and Environment and CSIRO in April 1991. One of the important outcomes of the studies was the initiation of an on-going and extensive thinning program in even-aged regrowth Silvertop forests in East Gippsland.

Executive Summary