Reducing wind damage in forests

Severe winds breaking and uprooting trees can cause considerable losses for forest growers. Extreme winds are predicted to become even more frequent worldwide as a result of climate change. Scion can advise foresters on the best ways to manage forests to minimise wind-related risks, considering factors such as soil type, species, silviculture activities and rotation age.

Our knowledge about the complex physical process of wind flow over forested landscapes is helping us to understand the factors that contribute to wind damage, and how best to reduce the risk. Wind flow is also important in other aspects of forest management, including pollen dispersal, spray management, wilding pine spread and fire risk.

Read

• More about wind damage [pdf]
• Managing wind risk in forests
• The complexity of predicting wind damage

Contact

Peter Clinton, Scientist, Microbial Ecology - Soil Systems