Intro to Harvesting

Question 1

Good harvest planning considers…

Answer 1

• Worker safety
• Social and Environmental considerations
• Timber values and harvesting costs
• Silvicultural objectives

Question 2

What are the primary concerns in Harvest Planning?

Answer 2

The planning of

• Roads
• Landings
• Falling Boundaries

Question 3

Who prepares logging plans?

Answer 3

Professional foresters or forest technologists

Question 4

What is a timber harvesting system? list the phases in order.

Answer 4

THS refers to the tools and equipment used to harvest an area

1. Falling and Bucking
2. Primary Transport
3. Loading
4. Hauling

Question 5

Which factors could effect the selection of THS’s?

Answer 5

1. physical environment (terrain, topo, soils / timber size)
2. silvicultural specs (clear vs. partial cut)
3. other factors (mill requirements, public perception, road constraints)

Question 6

What is yarding? What are the basic methods used?

Answer 6

Moving logs from where trees are felled, to the road, landing or water drop where they are loaded for further transport.

Methods are..

1. Ground based (multiple methods)
2. Cable based (multiple methods)
3. Baloon
4. Helicopter

Question 7

Explain the different methods of Ground Based Harvesting.

Answer 7

Skidders - move to logs, pick them up and “skid” or drag them to the landing.
Forwarders - move to logs, pick them up and transport them to the landing without dragging them
Hoe Forwarders - use a modified backhoe to lift logs and swing them to a landing.

Question 8

What is a limiting factor for ground based harvesting?

Answer 8

• Weather can effect whether or not ground based harvesting will cause unacceptable levels of site degradation.
• Slope
• Soil texture and moisture

Question 9

Briefly explain cable yarding.

Answer 9

In Cable yarding, Logs are suspended by cables that are controlled by a yarder and moved from the forest to a landing (ideally without dragging). Cable yarding is dependent on the overall shape of the slope being harvested, i.e. you need enough deflection to keep the logs suspended above ground.
-Reserved for steep, preferably convex slopes.

Question 10

Briefly explain balloon logging.

Answer 10

Balloon yarding is an option when topographic conditions limit cable systems from working. A yarder still pulls logs to the landing, but instead of relying on topography and tower height for lift, a hot air balloon provides the lift.
-It is more expensive than cable yarding

Question 11

Briefly explain Heli Logging and give the price per cubic meter that it would generally cost.

Answer 11

• Heli logging is used to yard logs in sensitive or inaccessible terrain.
• Flight distance is typically 600m - 1000m
• High value timber is necessary to balance cost of harvesting which is approx. $80.00/m3.

Question 12

What does the term, harvesting method, refer to?

list 3 typical methods.

Answer 12

The form in which a log is delivered to the landing, or roadside.
1. Cut to length: delimbing, topping and bucking done in woods
(most costly)
2. Tree length: delimbed and topped in the woods, bucked at landing (mid cost)
3. Full Tree: Delimbed, barked and delivered to landing for bucking (cheapest)