New Zealand Dryland Forests Innovation (NZDFI)

Our vision

New Zealand Dryland Forests Innovation (NZDFI) is a collaborative research and development project formed in 2008. Our vision is that New Zealand develops a sustainable multi-regional hardwood industry by planting 60,000 hectares of genetically improved eucalypt forests. These forest would be planted over the next 30 years in up to 12 regional catchments. Based on 2021 values this industry could  generate over $1billion GDP annually from 2050 onwards.

Why Australia's proposed Great Koala National Park presents market opportunity for NZ eucalypt growers

Eucalypts have long been a highly valued timber resource in Australia. Ever-tightening restrictions on harvesting native forests means supply is diminishing rapidly. New South Wales is the most recent state to propose increased native forest protection, following hard on the heels of Western Australia and Victoria.

The New South Wales proposal involves creating a 176,000 ha Great Koala National Park.

In a recent article, Paul Millen discusses why this presents an opportunity for New Zealand durable eucalypt growers.

Eucalyptus bosistoana: further genetic improvement

A one-year project: ‘Selection and Deployment of Elite E. bosistoana for Short Rotation Hardwood Forestry enabled us to select diverse elite genotypes for commercial deployment in Proseed’s clonal seed orchard, leading to future deployment in second-generation breeding populations to advance improvement.

Including elite selections from these families will expand NZDFI’s commercial production of high-quality XyloGene®-branded Eucalyptus bosistoana seed supply to nurseries and forest growers.

The project was completed in September 2025; funding came from Forest Growers Levy Trust and Te Uru Rākau,

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