Professor John Walker
Research Expertise
Wood processing, particularly mechanical properties, drying and preservation.
Current Focus
Research in the last few years has centred on wood quality issues for both pine and eucalypts. The central issue is the huge natural variability in wild or unimproved populations - and all plantation species are only a generation or two from their wild form (at least with regard to certain wood characteristics). These two genera present very different challenges and opportunities. Pine has vrey poor corewood (low stiffness, high longitudinal shrinkage) that needs to be improved, so the focus is on early selection. Eucalypts do not have a corewood problem per se. Instead hardwoods can suffer from excessive growth stresses and collapse. More specifically, our interest is in 'royal' dryland eucalypts, initially to produce naturally-durable vineyard posts and subsequently to yield timbers of such quality that they are comparable to those most sought from tropical forests.
Representative Publications
Apiolaza, L., Chauhan, S. & Walker, J.C.F. (2009). Revising eucalypts - a strategic review. In: Revising Eucalypts 2009, Apiolaza, Chauhan & Walker (eds), WTRC, University of Canterbury, 149-55
Walker, J.C.F. (2008). New Zealand forestry: a visit to a Gypsy fortune-teller's colourful caravan. NZ Journal of Forestry 53(2): 35-42
Walker, J.C.F. (2007). Clauswitz on Forestry. NZ Journal of Forestry 51(4): 34-7
Walker, J.C.F. et al. (2006). Primary Wood Processing: principles and practice (2nd Ed). Springer, The Netherlands, 596 pp
Entwistle, K. & Walker, J.C.F. (2005). Workshop assessment. In: The Hemicelluloses Workshop, Entwistle & Walker (ed), WTRC, University of Canterbury, 170-90