Research at the ICFR is founded on scientific excellence and is focused on developing technology and expertise in growing trees sustainably, profitably and responsibly, to benefit all stakeholders in plantation forestry in South Africa.
To do this, the ICFR 's research is conducted through three in-house multidisciplinary programmes: Tree Improvement Research, Re-establishment Research and Sustainable Forest Productivity Research.
In addition, the ICFR facilitates collaborative research initiatives at an Industry level. These currently include the South African Sirex Control Programme, the Pine Fusarium Working Group and Forest Engineering Southern Africa.
Research efforts are focussed on improving the quality and quantity of Acacia mearnsii timber and bark in South Africa. Ultimately this knowledge enables the South African wattle grower to remain competitive within the domestic and international Forestry Industries.
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Research is conducted on a range of eucalypt species, and includes four broad initiatives;
- Selective improvement of current commercially grown cold tolerant eucalypts (CTEs),
- Investigation and selective improvement of alternative species which have high potential for commercial forestry application over a range of low and high productivity sites,
- Investigations into flowering and seed production processes in eucalypts, and the factors which affect them, and
- Conservation of species which were once of commercial importance, as well as new species which may still be of commercial use in the future.
The common objective of these projects is to ensure, through the development of comprehensive breeding strategies and relevant flowering research, the effective commercial deployment of improved material.
The Re-establishment Research Programme aims to lead the southern African Forest Industry in terms of appropriate re-establishment practices for the pines and eucalypts grown in South Africa.
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The Sustainable Forest Productivity Research Programme seeks to improve our understanding of the key soil nutritional and physical processes that affect stand productivity particularly response to fertilization, residue management practices and harvesting impacts.
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