Timber species are worth more than timber. They may be grown amongst fodder shrubs, placed as windbreaks, grown in dry or hilly inaccessible places and used to protect and condition soil. They will provide habitat for a range of insects, birds and mammals. Their selection may be considered short or long term with some species like the Bunya Pine planned as permanent trees with species interplanted to be thinned out over time.

Photo right: On the western side of our dam we have planted a strip of Belah (a casuarina from the brigalow country) Hoop and Bunya Pine interplanted with Old Man Salt Bush.

Runoff from the dam wall is directed to a ripline where the trees were planted aiding establishment.
The Saltbush is planted as a pioneer sun and wind protector for the Bunya and Hoop Pine. Its roots will also protect the Pines Trees from potentially lethal cracks in the soil during periods of dry. Up hill where we have planted White Cedar with Saltbush the Cedar is significantly stronger than those planted without. The ultra deep roots of the Saltbush we believe may be a supply of moisture and nutrient to its host companion via a symbiotic relationship with fungi associated with the roots.

Belah is a fast growing tree to 10m in height. Combined with the Pines and other plantings around the dam it will help to create a "still air mass" around the dam to reduce evaporation. Belah may be coppiced to produce fuel wood. It has a very high heat to fuel ratio.

We have incorporated White Cedar as shade and windbreaks in designated grazing areas. Many grass species, especially green panic, grow better in the shade of these trees. They also raise minerals and nutrients from deep sub-soils, which are then ultimately recycled throughout the grazing system.

Our preference is to establish "dry rainforest species" not as mono-culture plantings but as guilds that fill niches of opportunity within the entire system.

These guilds then generate and maintain micro flora and fauna in the soil that is harmonious with all of our fruit and nut trees.

About half of Janahn Forest is Native Ironbark, Cypress and Wilga, once part of the extensive Brigalow Belt that covered over 70% of Queensland and NSW. It is a source of dead wood for bio-char. Timber is also cut for on-farm construction purposes.

A niche for timber seedlings that receive
runoff from the dam wall


Bunya Pine Seedling


Cutting cypress pine from our native forest