Thread: Asking help on my knees

Let me get this straight - you want to export saplings of Aussie trees and plenty them in other countries?

I have in mind various attempts to export trees like spotted gum to the SW USA. Unfortunately they grew stunted and twisted making them useless for timber and worse still have turned into a rampant weed and are altering some environments by outcompeting local species..

I worked with a foresty plantation company for a while (not as a forester though).

I did realise just how specialist and difficult, and to an extent unpredictable the choice of tree to plant in a forestry area can be, for it to perform well.

Also, there is a huge art and science in choosing what species for what market -- predicting world market trends years in advance.

Hugely capital intensive too.

I don't know who you are teaming up with, but you've got your work cut out, that's for sure.

Originally Posted by Joetheboy

G'day Mates, I am a rookie in wood stuff. Greatly appreciated if anyone can help me with the questions below:

1, I am looking for tree saplings to export to other country for furniture timber. I have heard that the rosewood would be one of the good timber to be used on furniture. Does anyone know if it is worth exporting? Other than the rosewood, any recommendation??

2, Following the first question, how long would the tree take to mature so that I can harvest?

3, What is the procedure to export saplings to other country from Australia?

4, Any price range of saplings in Australia?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge and ignorance. Desperately need the answers.

Joey the Boy

Hi Joey, welcome

Forgive me, but your questions look a lot like a school assignment to me.
Perhaps if you research how long a tree takes to grow to marketable size, say minimum 500mm diameter you will get an idea

I don't follow why you want to grow Aussie trees in a third country. The risk vs the potential savings in labour costs don't seem to add up.

Joey

I appreciate you are a newcomer (welcome) and I think there may be some confusion about the way you have described your project.

A sapling is a young tree probably anywhere from 25mm to 100mm diameter. In a plantation the first thinings, for uses such as pit props in underground mines, will occur soon after this size and depending on the species may occur from the ten to fifteen years. Bear in mind these will be the poorly grown trees that are thinned.

In a species such as radiata pine the aim, I think, is to clear fell the plantation by the fortieth year. Felling will take place progressively from about year fifteen.

Hardwoods, I think, will take significantly longer, but I am not exactly sure. Also don't take my earlier figures as being exact. They are just a guide. There is a continual progression to harvest timber as early as possible. It doesn't however produce better timber.

I am wondering if you are referring to tube stock when you talk about saplings. Tube stock are small seedlings (you could hold four or five in the palm of your hand). Bought in large quantities (thousands) they could be as little as $1 each.

Now a question which I probably should have asked first. Do you mean rosewood, which is an imported timber to australia or rose gum, which is sometimes called flooded gum (E. grandis)? It too is a very handy furniture timber.

Lastly, I would guess there is not too much of an issue exporting plants from Oz. There are big issues importing! You would also have to look at the regulations of any country to which you were importing.

Regards
Paul

Hang on you want to export saplings and want us to tell you what,where,how to do it all???????????? C'mon mate you're havin a lend of us I reckon

Why saplings, why not seed? You would fit a boat load worth of timber in an envelope.

Joey

I think we are speculating here and I am probably the worst offender. If this is a genuine enquiry I would like to see some further comment and more information from you.

Regards
Paul