By Colleen Barilae – EMTV News, Lae
Forest Research Institute Acting Director, Dr. Martin Golman, says research carried out at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) can now redirect its focus on inventing new finished products.
This follows the new downstream processing policy that can also involve production of other timber products apart from just wood or log.
FRI has since been working alongside the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research to enhance its researches.
Studies to identify tree species for preservation and for harvesting have become one of the core functions of the FRI.
Acting Director Golman says the amount of research has greatly helped in other joint projects with stakeholders in downstream processing.
He says one of its many seedling regeneration pieces of research has proven to be used in a biomass electricity project, which will come into operation soon.
Currently, there are up to 200-plant species that are being studied that can be utilised for use in various forest products.
While wood and log have been by far the two common end products extracted from trees, Dr. Golman says more research will now be carried out to identify other products that can be made from timber.
The FRI also has limited funding challenges in carrying out its research, with all research put on hold as a result of this.
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