Farm Forestry Toolbox Version 5.2.9 NOW AVAILABLE
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The Farm Forestry Toolbox is a collection of programs (called tools) to assist forest owners and managers plan, monitor and manage shelterbelts, plantations or native forests.
These tools are user-friendly and among other things help users with:
- surveying and mapping;
- forest inventory;
- estimating plantation growth for a wide range of species;
- managing plantations for different scenarios;
- financial analysis;
- diagnosis of forest pests and diseases and
- carbon accounting.
The Toolbox has been developed by Private Forests Tasmania for use by forest managers in different geographic areas in Australia. Use of knowledge of local conditions is recommended when using the tools.
It is strongly recommended users seek professional advice before undertaking any significant forestry project.
The Farm Forestry Toolbox can be downloaded using the links at the bottom of this page.
The download version contains a detailed user manual, worked examples and short video clips to show how each tool is used.
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under its Forest Industries Climate Change Research Fund program.
We invite your feedback on the Farm Forestry Toolbox software using this form.
Further information
Table 1. General description of the tools in The Farm Forestry Toolbox, Version 5.2.
| Tool |
Description |
| Conversions |
Converts common standard units of measurement including area, length, volume, weight and slope. Uniquely allows compound conversions such as 5’10” to metric. |
| Map-Coordinates |
Converts geographic and map grid coordinates on various datums. This tool allows you to graphically create your own conversion program. |
| Log Stack Volume |
Estimates volume and weight of an individual log, or a stack of logs, using one of many log volume formulae. |
| Slope |
Converts slope distance into horizontal and vertical components. |
| Wedge |
Allows you to calibrate an angle gauge instrument (wedge) in order to undertake a wedge count. |
| Survey |
A simple GIS and CAD. Enables you to map, plot and calculate areas, using either a compass or GPS traverse, or by directly digitising on the screen over a background image or map. Two-dimensional drafting is also possible. |
| Stocking |
Calculates the number of trees per hectare using the distance between trees and between rows. It can account for complex block planting. |
| Site Productivity |
Estimates site quality and expected plantation growth over time. Especially handy for estimating tree growth in paddocks. |
| Inven-tree |
Inventory. Find out the volume and value of products in a single tree, a plot of trees or your whole forest. This tool operates at (1) an exploratory single tree level in which data cannot saved and (2) the plot level in which data may be saved. Inventory data can be imported and exported. Many reporting formats are offered. This tool uniquely allows branches to be drawn and assessed (handy for mallees) and allows diameter to be measured at non-standard heights. |
| Stand Manager |
The most sophisticated tool. It draws on data from various sources within Toolbox to grow your forest and track income and expenditure. It calculates Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and the breakeven value for any financial field such as carbon or sawlog price. The tool allows you to test many different management scenarios you may be considering, thus assisting you in strategic decision making. It is equally adept at modelling wood products and carbon. |
| Default Data |
Sets system-wide default values for various parameters. |
|
Biomass
|
Used to specify wood or carbon density, and proportions of weight allocated to stems, branches, leaves, bark, and roots. |
| Models |
Sets the availability of tree shape and growth models in the Power Tools. |
|
Log Grade
|
Used to specify the sets of log grade specifications. |
| Regime |
Used to construct a sequence of forest operations.
|
|
Incorporates three tools to help you identify health problems in plantation grown eucalypts, plantation pines and native forest.
|
| File Management |
Users can save-as, back-up, copy and create new Toolbox files. Data for individual tools can be imported from any other Toolbox file. |
|
Help
|
Choose from videos, context help, quick help, the manual and worked examples.
|
