Grower information
NZDFI aims to provide forest growers with the knowledge and resources to establish new hardwood forests as an alternative land use in New Zealand’s eastern drylands.
Our select eucalypts provide dryland farmers with an opportunity to grow a valuable, versatile ground-durable timber crop on a relatively short rotation. Our eucalypts produce nectar and pollen for bees and native birds and can be planted for soil stabilisation and shelter.
NZDFI is targeting dryland regions between Canterbury and Gisborne. These regions have low annual rainfall (600mm-1000mm), and are prone to summer droughts, the frequency and severity of which are forecast to increase with climate change. Eucalypts are renowned for their ability to survive droughts while maintaining fast growth rates.