Forest Vegetation Management

Production forestry is more than just managing trees. Every forest contains a large number of other plant species, some of which are detrimental to productivity and other values, while others are beneficial.

Forest vegetation management involves minimising the impact of weeds on crop growth in a safe and cost-effective way.

Scion provides the science to develop vegetation management systems that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

As specialists in all aspects of forestry-related vegetation management, we offer a comprehensive weed research programme covering the following major areas:

• Weed risk analysis - identifying and managing high risk weed species.
• Herbicide risk reduction - minimising the costs and unwanted environmental impacts associated with chemical sprays.
• Alternatives to herbicides - using non-chemical methods to control weeds.
• Weed ecology - understanding the influence of non-crop vegetation on ecosystem processes, weed population dynamics and the competitive effect of weed species.
• Optimising vegetation management regimes - producing tools that assist forest managers to develop cost-effective weed control regimes.

Wilding conifer control

Wildings are the result of seedling spread of introduced trees (mainly conifers), occurring in areas not managed for forest production, especially in the hill and high country of New Zealand.  Here they cause concern by threaten pastoral production or conservation values and disrupting highly valued visual landscapes.

Scion has been undertaking research into wilding conifer ecology and management for over 20 years supporting regional authorities and landowners in their efforts to control and manage wildings all over New Zealand. 

Since 2009, scientists Nick Ledgard and Thomas Paul have been heading a Sustainable Farming Fund wilding project for the South Island (now New Zealand) Wilding Conifer Management Group, which represents a wide range of people from private landowners, land authorities, environmental groups, forest companies and researchers. 

Nick Ledgard retired from Scion in 2011. Please direct any specific enquiries about wilding conifer ecology and management to Thomas Paul at Scion.