Logging crews are to be brought in from outside Canterbury to help with the clean-up and wood recovery in forests left shattered from last week's wind storm.
Plantation owners are still assessing the damage.
But consultant Allan Laurie says it's the worst he's seen in his 26 years in the industry. However, he says it's too early to put an estimate on the cost of the damage.
Mr Laurie said his company has already made arrangements to bring extra logging contractors in from Southland and Nelson.
But he estimates at least four or five more crews will be needed just to handle the clean-up in the plantations the company manages.
Processing and shipping will also need to be re-organised.