Why the interest in radiata pine plantations?
• Growth of radiata pine ranges from 18 to 30 cubic meters/hectare/year (1,200 to 2,000 board feet acre/year) over a 25 to 30 year rotation. This yields net harvest volumes of 30,0000 to 55,000 board feet/acre (450 to 900 cubic meters/ha.) in that time. An average site will find tree height growth of 92 feet in 20 years. • Intensive silvicultural treatments, which include pruning of the first log, usually to 20′, but now sometimes to 26′, produces large amounts of clear wood lumber over short rotations at times when clear wood from old growth stands is becoming increasingly difficult to come by. The pruned butt logs represent less than 30% of the volume and 66% of the value of the tree. • Real internal rates of return from plantation forests of 9 to 12%, using conservative estimates of future timber values. • Ready availability of land suitable for forest plantation. • Good existing infrastructure of roads, rail, ports, and mills. • Excellent research and development facilities with re
