Rowan (B.For.Sci. & M.For.Sci.) is a forester amongst farmers. His latest book is "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit".
He won the Australian Eureka Prize for his farmer course (The Australian Master TreeGrower), which he continues to deliver around Australia and internationally (Africa, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Vanuatu etc.). Rowan has lectured a subject in agroforestry at Melbourne University since 1991 and is now the managing director of the Australian Agroforestry Foundation.
Most importantly, Rowan is also a farmer and tree grower in his own right, with a family farm in the Otway Ranges of southern Victoria and a founder of one of Australia’s most successful Landcare groups, the Otway Agroforestry Network. More than 12,000 visitors have toured his Bambra Agroforestry Farm, which is set up as a 42-hectare outdoor classroom for farmers, scientists, students and tree lovers, and a living laboratory for his own learning.
Other than a threat, I see an opportunity for timber production to be done in ways that enhance biodiversity, control land degradation and create beautiful landscapes. This is one example from our own family farm in the Otways (Vic).
Caught in the act: How our high-pruned timber trees are helping our rare Sugar Gliders survive the winter. The clear trunks are an easy landing pad. The glid...