New Zealand foresters are using “flying robots” to plan, measure, and monitor forests, with drones among the most important tools in modern forestry. A decade after Scion first deployed unmanned aerial vehicles for research, the technology has evolved into a core platform for high‑resolution mapping, precision measurement, and real‑time forest intelligence across the country.
As reported by Farmers Weekly, Scion — now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute — purchased its first drone in 2015, when UAVs were only just beginning to move beyond military use. Early systems were limited by short battery life, often offering just 15 to 20 minutes of flight time.
That same year, Scion combined a laser scanner with a drone built by New Zealand manufacturer Aeronavics, a company better known for supplying the Hollywood film industry. The pairing opened the door to high‑definition aerial mapping and forest monitoring, laying the foundation for today’s far more advanced systems.
Modern drones now support 3D modelling, sub‑canopy mapping, sample collection, and multi‑function missions in a single pass. These capabilities have transformed how foresters assess tree growth, forest health, and terrain complexity.
Scion scientist Robin Harley said the team is now capturing high‑definition LiDAR imagery for precision tree measurement and rendering detailed maps of forest trials. “We are also exploring niche areas such as sub‑canopy flying for characterising stem and branch structure and collecting upper‑canopy samples,” he said.
The work is increasingly aligned with commercial forestry companies seeking bespoke solutions, including UAV‑based spray systems. As drone power and payload capacity grow, mechanical applications are emerging — from targeted spraying to planting trees on steep or inaccessible terrain.
Afforestation projects are also adopting the technology. In Auckland’s Hunua Ranges, Watercare has used drones to disperse seed pods containing native species, dropping 50,000 pods in just half an hour across rugged catchment land.
Globally, the trend is accelerating. China is preparing for large‑scale drone deployment in forestry, integrating military‑grade technology into agricultural and environmental applications.
LiDAR‑equipped drones are being used to map the country’s expanding tree population and to seed the Great Green Wall — a vast belt of trees designed to halt the spread of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. The project, already the world’s largest seeded forest at 66 million trees, is due for completion in 2050.
By 2020, more than 80% of New Zealand’s forestry industry had adopted drones for aerial imagery, whilst LiDAR adoption had jumped from just 17% to 70% in just a few years. A study of 23 companies covering 1.17 million hectares — two‑thirds of the country’s exotic forest estate — found drone‑linked technologies were being used for forest mapping, harvest planning, and cutover analysis.
