Whole Tree Chipping & Harvesting

Types of Timber Harvests

Selective Harvest – A harvest that focuses on the better quality trees.

Selection Harvest – The removal of trees either as single scattered individuals or in small groups, at relatively short intervals repeated Indefinitely so that the continuous establishment of regeneration is encouraged and an uneven-aged stand is maintained.

Timber Stand Improvement(TSI) – Pre commercial or non-commercial activity designed to improve tree and stand quality and/or release the potential crop trees in a stand.

Thinning – Removal of some trees in a stand to increase growing space improving the growth rate and/or quality in the remaining trees.

Patch Cut/ Patch Clear cut – Removal of all trees within a designated small area in a harvest area. Areas are larger than those cut in a group selection method.

Clear-cut – A forest harvesting practice which most or all trees are removed from a site. Clear cuts are used for immediate commercial purposes and for regeneration of future forests. Clear cuts are often times used when disease or infestation has taken over.

Shelter wood – A system of management requiring the removal of the mature timber in a series of cuttings over a period of time.

Whole Tree Harvesting

The use of Whole-tree chipping, is used in conjunction with a mechanical harvest that also utilizes low grade or non-merchantable wood. The process of chipping by-products generated from a harvest into boiler fuel is called biomass. Chipping of low grade or non-merchantable timber can be costly due to the equipment used but can result in improving the overall aesthetics of a harvest leaving a cleaner appearance.

 

 

Low Impact Harvesting

Low Impact Harvesting or cut to length harvesting (CTL) is a mechanized harvesting system that utilizes two high tech pieces of equipment . The harvester-track machine fells and delimbs the trees while the second piece called the forwarder transports the wood to the landing area. The residual slash is then evenly dispersed in the woods. This system can be very beneficial in poorly drained soils and can greatly minimize ground disturbance.