Help map New Zealand’s alternative plantation species [NZ]

Friday 7 Aug 2026

 
New Zealand’s plantation forestry sector is dominated by Pinus radiata, but an increasing number of forests contain alternative species such as Douglas-fir, cypress, eucalyptus, redwood, larch, poplar and acacia.

These species are becoming increasingly important for timber production, forest diversification, and resilience to climate change, pests and diseases. However, there is currently no comprehensive national map showing where these species are located.

Researchers from the University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry are seeking help from forest owners and managers to address this information gap.

The research is part of a PhD project led by Joseph Avis, under the supervision of Dr Vega Xu, Dr Justin Morgenroth and Dr Grant Pearse. The project is investigating how satellite imagery, drone imagery, LiDAR and other spatial datasets can be used to identify and map plantation tree species across New Zealand.

The aim is to develop reliable classification methods and produce a detailed national map of New Zealand’s plantation forest species. This would provide a valuable resource for forest managers, researchers and the wider forestry sector.

Remote sensing can provide powerful tools for mapping forests, but accurate field information is needed to train and validate the classification models. The research team is therefore seeking information from forest owners and managers who know the locations of alternative plantation species.

How you can help

If you own or manage a forest containing Douglas-fir, cypress, eucalyptus, redwood, larch, poplar, acacia or another minor plantation species, please complete our short online survey.

The survey asks for basic information about the forest, including:
  • Its location;
  • The tree species present; and
  • The approximate planting year.
Click here to start the survey - it only takes only a few minutes to complete.

The information collected will contribute to a national training dataset and help improve the accuracy of plantation species mapping across New Zealand. The project ultimately aims to produce a national plantation forest species map for the forestry community.

All information will be used solely for this University of Canterbury research project. Individual responses and specific forest locations will remain confidential and will not be publicly released.

For further information, please contact:

Joseph Avis, PhD candidate, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury
Joseph.avis@pg.canterbury.ac.nz

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