Associate Professor
Forest Inventory, Forest Mensuration, Carbon Sequestration and Accounting, Forest Modelling, Forest Planning, Urban Forestry

Chair of Forestry, Waiariki Institute of Technology
Private Bag 3028, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand
Phone: 64 7 346 8916 Fax: 64 7 346 8985
E-mail: Cris.Brack@waiariki.ac.nz
Web: http://www.forestryschool.ac.nz/

For the next 3 years I am currently Professor, Chair of Forestry, Waiariki Institute of Technology, New Zealand, however I am in regular liaison and collaboration with the Fenner School.

Cris completed his undergraduate B.Sc.(for)(hons) degree at ANU in 1982 then worked in the biggest plantation district in NSW. After promotion to Forest Inventory Officer, he designed inventories and information systems for NSW. Following a PhD in Canada he returned to Australia as Senior Inventory Officer for State Forests of NSW with responsibility for supporting management of plantations and multiple-use native forests. He joined ANU Forestry in June 1994. Cris has subsequently undertaken extensive research and consultancy work throughout Australia as well as New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesian, PNG, Germany, South Africa and USA.

Professional Activities

My most significant research contributions have been the development of optimal sampling strategies, modelling tools, and decision-support systems for trees at stand, landscape and continental scales. This research integrates knowledge of and innovation in applied statistics (for model-based and unequal probability sampling), data acquisition (from remotely sensed imagery and ground-based surveys), modelling (of tree and stand dynamics, fauna and flora habitat supply), and expert and decision-support systems (as integrating methods). The research has broad application in both natural and urban environments, and has attracted national and international interest. My work has been influential in development of the Australian Greenhouse Office's National Carbon Accounting System, and in catalysing the development and adoption of new approaches by forest and land managers and policy makers including the Bureau of Resource Sciences, National Forest Inventory, Canberra Parks and Places, Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria), Forestry Tasmania and Private Forests Tasmania. I am involved in teaching and learning in all these areas for undergraduates and post-graduates.

I am also active in National and International Research Working Groups on Forest Measurement and Information Systems; Inventories on Successive Occasions; Improving Education and Further Education in Forestry.

During 2008 my research focused on: measuring and reporting on the carbon sequestration at a small scale and national level; determining the environmental and economic value of urban forests; enhancing inventory data collection (including the use of LIDAR and ground-based lasers); tree ring analysis (dendrochronology) and making good management decisions. I continue as a member of the Expert, Independent Advisory Panel to monitor the Department of Sustainability and Environment performance.

Academic Highlights

Winner of the Australian Museum Eureka Award for Environmental Science (2008)

Winner of the Carrick Institute Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2007)

Selected Publications

( see also http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/mensuration/BRACKPUB.HTM )

Brookhouse, M., Lindesay, J., and Brack, C.L. (2008) The potential of Tree Rings in Eucalyptus pauciflora for Climatological and Hydrological Reconstruction. Geographical Research 46(4): 421 - 434.

Brookhouse, M. and Brack, C.L. (2008) The effect of age and sample position on eucalypt tree-ring width series. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38: 1144 - 1158.

Roberts, S., Field, J., McElhinny, C. and Brack, C.L. (2008) Doing nothing in dry regrowth forests is not an option. Australian Forest Grower 30(4): 31 - 33.

Ford, A., Brack, C.L. and James, R. (2008) Site Index prediction for Pinus radiata D. Don at local scale on the Southern Tablelands of NSW using a national Forest Productivity Model. Australian Forestry 70(3): 152 - 157.

Wielinga, B., Waterworth, R. and Brack, C.L. (2008) Fertiliser and irrigation effects on wood density at various heights for Pinus radiata. European Journal of Forest Research 127: 63 - 70.

Brack, C.L. (2007) National Forest Inventories and Biodiversity Monitoring in Australia. Plant Biosystem 141: 104-112.

Waterworth, R., Raison, J., Brack, C.L., Benson; M., Khanna; P. and Keryn P. (2007) Effects of irrigation and fertilisation on growth and structure of Pinus radiata stands between 10 and 29 years of age. Forest Ecology and Management 239: 169 - 181.

Waterworth, R.M., Richards, G.P., Brack, C.L. and Evans, D.M.W. (2007) A generalised hybrid process-empirical model for predicting plantation forest growth. Forest Ecology and Management 238: 231-243.

Gilbert, M. and Brack, C.L. (2007) Changes in public requests to remove significant urban trees after severe bushfires in Canberra, Australia. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 6:41 - 48.