The Farm Forestry Toolbox is a collection of programs (we call tools) for assisting managers of shelter belts, plantations or native forests. Among other things it offers ways to estimate:
· how much wood might grow in your pine or eucalypt plantation
· how much standing volume you have to sell now
· the volume of your cut logs
· keys to assist with diagnosing health problems.
The Toolbox has been developed by PFT for use in the Tasmanian farm forestry context, but many tools are suitable for use anywhere, whilst others can be useful, but need to be used with some knowledge of local conditions. Before undertaking any significant forestry project, it is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice. The tools have been developed to be user- friendly.
Table 1. General description of the tools in The Farm Forestry Toolbox, Version 5.
| Tool |
Description |
| Conversions |
Converts common standard units of measurement including area, length, volume, weight and slope. |
| Map-Coordinates |
Converts geographic and map grid coordinates on various datums. |
| Log Stack Volume |
Estimates volume and weight of an individual log or a stack of logs. Calculates and presents a statistical report for a stack of logs. You can save and print the output. |
| Slope |
Resolves slope distance into horizontal and vertical components. |
| Wedge |
Allows you to calibrate an angle gauge instrument in order to undertake an angle count inventory. |
| Survey |
Enables you to map, annotate and calculate areas, using either traverse or GPS coordinates, or by directly digitising on the screen over a background image or scanned map. |
| Stocking |
Calculates the number of trees per hectare using the distance between trees and between rows. It can also account for complex block planting. |
| Site Productivity |
Estimates (for selected species) site quality and indicates plantation growth over time. You can save and print the output. |
| Inventory |
Find out how much wood and what log grades there are in a single tree, a plot of trees or your whole forest. This tool operates at (1) a single tree level in which data may be printed but not saved to computer and (2) plot level in which data may be saved and printed. The tool also allows you to display information graphically and import and export data. |
| Stand Manager |
Uses information from various sources to track income and expenditure over the rotation of your forest. It calculates both Net Present Value (NPV) and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR). The tool allows you to test the many different management scenarios you may be considering, thus assisting you in strategic management decision making. Information may be saved, printed and exported. |
| Editors |
| Log Grade |
Used to specify the sets of log grade specifications. |
| Default Data |
Sets system-wide default values for various parameters. |
| Regime |
Used to construct a sequence of forest operations. |
| Incorporates three tools to help you identify health problems in (1) plantation grown eucalypts, (2) plantation pines and (3) other native forest. |
Version 5 CD is available free of charge from any PFT office.
The CD also contains a detailed user manual, worked examples and short video clips to illustrate how each tool is used.
