 Forest and Wood Science
Research conducted within the Department of Forest and Wood Science includes silviculture, forest management, remote sensing, forest development, tree improvement and nursery practices, forest engineering and primary and secondary wood processing, including pulp and paper. The focus of silviculture is on response mechanisms of pine stands to changes in the availability of growth resources and the long-term effect of intensive management on the sustainable utilisation of industrial plantation and drought resistant hybrids. In forest management the emphasis is on measurement and modelling of growth and the prediction of yield. Remote sensing in turn is concentrated on automated forest inventories by means of digital image interpretation, low cost photogrammetry and the quantification of the value of information. In forest development work is focused on resource utilisation in dry land agro-forestry systems, commercialisation of indigenous forestry products and the management and utilisation of natural forests and Miombo woodlands. Research in forest engineering includes the logistics of timber harvesting and the transport of forest products, and the development and network management of extended roads and transport systems in the short, medium and long term. Wood product science research includes the modelling of quality, drying characteristics, moisture movement, and the chemical surface structure of wood and pulp fibre, wood fibre products and biomaterial.
Academic:
Prof T Seifert (Chairman, Forest management)
PA Ackerman (; Forest Engineering)
C Ham (Forest Management)
Dr B du Toit (Silviculture)
Dr M Meincken (Wood physics)
Prof T Rypstra (Wood chemistry)
Dr L Tyhoda (Wood chemistry and Biofuels)
CB Wessels (Mechanical processing)
B Lötter* (Furniture design)
H Ham* (Tree improvement and nursery practices)
Dr EM Marais* (Wood anatomy)
*Temporary
Researchers:
JPJ Swart
JH Mortimer
Extraordinary professors:
Dr F Akinnifesi, Prof C Geldenhuys, Prof M Jacobson, Prof R Pulkki, Prof K von Gadow, Prof W Warkotsch, Prof B Dvorak
Emeriti:
Prof B Bredenkamp, Prof H Vermaas
Technicians:
A Kunneke, M Februarie, W Hendrikse,
Administrative:
U Petersen, M Gordon
Public relations:
M Gordon
Contact information:
Tel: +27 21 808 3323
Fax: +27 21 808 3603
wood@sun.ac.za
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