Native Forest Silviculture 
                                                                         Manual 
                        Doc title: Native Forest Silviculture Manual           Version No. 2                                   P a g e  | 1 
                        Document ID (TRIM No.): D00085147                      Issue Date: (last review) August 2015           Review Date:  31/12/2018 
                      Contents 
                      Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 4 
                      1.    Silviculture policy for native forests .................................................................................... 4 
                      2.    Evolution, ecology and silviculture ..................................................................................... 5 
                         3.1 Opportunism and Persistence .......................................................................................... 5 
                         2.1.      Intolerance and Crown Shyness ................................................................................. 6 
                         3.2       The silviculture of eucalypts ........................................................................................ 7 
                         3.4       White Cypress .......................................................................................................... 10 
                      3.    Silvicultural systems and practices ................................................................................... 12 
                         3.1.      Regeneration Systems .............................................................................................. 12 
                            Single Tree Selection (Classical) ..................................................................................... 12 
                            New South Wales Selective Harvesting ........................................................................... 14 
                            Australian Group Selection (AGS) .................................................................................... 15 
                            Seed Tree / Shelterwood Harvesting ................................................................................ 16 
                            Clearfelling ....................................................................................................................... 17 
                            Practices Employed With Regeneration Systems ............................................................. 18 
                         3.2.      Intermediate Systems ............................................................................................... 19 
                      4.    Silviculture as a facet of ecosystem management ............................................................ 23 
                      5.    Site specific silviculture .................................................................................................... 27 
                         5.1.      Assessing Stand History ........................................................................................... 27 
                         5.3.      Describing Forest Structure ...................................................................................... 30 
                         5.4.      Silvicultural Assessment ........................................................................................... 30 
                         5.5.      Regeneration Harvests ............................................................................................. 31 
                         5.6.      Intermediate Harvests ............................................................................................... 32 
                         5.7.      Rehabilitation ............................................................................................................ 32 
                         5.8.      Other silvicultural treatments ..................................................................................... 33 
                         5.9.      Silviculture and fire .................................................................................................... 33 
                      6.    Regional considerations in silviculture .............................................................................. 37 
                         Coastal and Tablelands Regions ......................................................................................... 37 
                         Alpine Ash Region ............................................................................................................... 46 
                        Doc title: Native Forest Silviculture Manual           Version No. 2                                   P a g e  | 2 
                        Document ID (TRIM No.): D00085147                      Issue Date: (last review) August 2015           Review Date:  31/12/2018 
                         River Red Gum Region ....................................................................................................... 48 
                         White Cypress Region ......................................................................................................... 50 
                         Addendum - Description of STS and AGS Silvicultural Systems for Coastal Forests............58
                        Doc title: Native Forest Silviculture Manual           Version No. 2                                   P a g e  | 3 
                        Document ID (TRIM No.): D00085147                      Issue Date: (last review) August 2015           Review Date:  31/12/2018 
                      Introduction 
                      The purpose of the Manual is to provide the basis for a common understanding of silviculture 
                      across the range of native forests in New South Wales. It documents the basis for silvicultural 
                      practices, and contains the silvicultural specifications and guidelines required by Regional 
                      Forest Agreements made between New South Wales and the Commonwealth under the 
                      National Forest Policy Statement.  
                      The Manual summarises silvicultural principles, policies and practices in the context of New 
                      South Wales’ ecological, social and economic environment.  
                      1. Silviculture policy for native forests
                                 Policy 
                      Silviculture in State forests will sustain or enhance productivity, vitality and diversity of forest 
                      ecosystems.  
                                 Context 
                      Silviculture will be practised in regional landscapes having comprehensive reserve systems, 
                      Forest Management Zones and Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management practices. 
                      Silviculture can enhance biodiversity and timber productivity, thereby complementing the 
                      mainly passive management in formal reserves.  
                                 Objective  
                      Silvicultural practices will: 
                                Provide for the needs of current and future generations
                                Maintain or enhance biodiversity
                                Maintain the full range of ecosystems across the regional landscape
                                Maintain or enhance the forests’ wood production capability.
                                 Strategy  
                      The silvicultural policy will be implemented by: 
                               Carrying out site-specific assessments of ecosystems scheduled for silvicultural
                                 management
                               According to forest type and stand condition, specifying appropriate silviculture to
                                 conserve or enhance biodiversity and produce timber sustainably
                               Specifying intended stand structure, growing stock, regeneration and biodiversity
                                 outcomes in harvesting and silviculture plans
                               Protecting and enhancing forest health and vitality actively managing threats such as
                        Doc title: Native Forest Silviculture Manual           Version No. 2                                   P a g e  | 4 
                        Document ID (TRIM No.): D00085147                      Issue Date: (last review) August 2015           Review Date:  31/12/2018