Farm Forestry New ZealandPoplar Action Group
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Promoting and supporting the growing, processing and marketing of poplar wood and poplar and willow fibre/ chemical products.
The poplar action group formed in April 2023 to encourage the planting and utilisation of poplar trees in New Zealand. Poplar is an important timber species in the northern hemisphere and is a popular farm tree in New Zealand for soil conservation. A number of hybrid poplars have been bred in New Zealand with improved growth and form, thus unlocking the timber potential for the species.
Objectives
- Undertake site specific investigations into the selection of poplar of different cultivars for colour and stiffness/strength and growth rates, yield, and suitability for favourable milling qualities.
- Utilise the knowledge gained to have timber from poplar hybrids, subjected to either chemical or thermal modification, accepted within the NZ Building Code for outdoor building purposes.
- Report examples and review performance of poplar use in building and construction.
- Encourage research into the use of poplar and willow for products based on fibre, chemical and bio energy characteristics
- Promote the wider planting and commercial management of poplar for timber, and poplar and willow for fibre, chemical and bio energy production, as plantations, shelter belts and space planted trees
- Develop a business case for producing timber and other products with a special focus on high value end products from plantations, shelter belts and space planted trees on a commercial scale in NZ
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