Tree Felling and Processing

Importance of the Felling and Processing Component An Example: For a 50 acre harvest unit in the Oregon Coast Range Clearcut of a 70 year old stand What is the total harvest volume? How many total 50 MBF/Acre BF/Log --- 8,333 logs

Importance of the Felling and Processing Component An Example: For a 50 acre harvest unit in the Oregon Coast Range Clearcut of a 70 year old stand What is the total gross timber $600/MBF --- $1,500,000

Importance of the Felling and Processing Component An Example: For a 50 acre harvest unit in the Oregon Coast Range Clearcut of a 70 year old stand With a 5% gain in wood value in the felling and bucking process: $75,000 value increase in one 50 acre harvest unit For one year’s harvesting (assume 25 similar units): approx. $2,000,000 value increase

Importance of the Felling and Processing Component Other Reasons Why Felling and Processing is Important: Logging productivity Social aspects – worker safety Environmental damage - e.g. water quality & residual stand damage

Tree Felling and Processing Topics Chainsaw felling and bucking Mechanical directional felling Log manufacturing quality control Required Reading: Course notes BC Harvesting Systems Text

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking Project Level Planning and Monitoring or Operational Planning/Layout & Contract Administration Interactions between loggers and forest engineers What are some of the important factors/ variables that should be considered?

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking: Planning and Operational Factors/Variables Felling Pattern Perpendicular Herringbone Contour

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking: Planning and Operational Factors/Variables Terrain

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking: Planning and Operational Factors/Variables Tree Lean and Weight Distribution

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking: Planning and Operational Factors/Variables Snags and Wildlife Trees Oregon Forest Practice Rules require minimum of 2 per acre (>11” dbh; >30’) OR OSHA require that “danger trees” be felled…. ….consider the degree & direction of the tree lean

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking: Planning and Operational Factors/Variables Wind throw / Blow down

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking: Planning and Operational Factors/Variables Stage Felling and Skidding

Chainsaw Felling and Bucking: Planning and Operational Factors/Variables Time scheduling & cutting crew organization Considerations: Lead time before skidding or yarding Crew access to unit Spacing of cutters in unit (OR-OSHA: strips at least 2 tree lengths apart)

Chainsaw Felling: The Process Choose the lay of the tree Clear brush and identify an escape route from the tree (OR-OSHA: 45 angle) Undercut or Face cut Backcut Wedging & Holding Wood (hinge)

Tree Processing: Limbing, Bucking (or Crosscutting) and Topping Where are these activities completed? At the stump, landing or sort yard! Whole tree system: trees felled; limbs & tops attached Tree length system: trees felled, limbed & topped (bucking completed separately) Log length system: trees felled, limbed, bucked & topped Long log or Short log system (CTL) Variation: Top attached to last log for yarding

Tree Processing: Chainsaw Considerations Measure the whole tree before starting the bucking

Tree Processing: Chainsaw Considerations Tree lay creates compression and tension wood “Top, bottom and side binds”