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1. To define terms associated with harvesting timber.

2. To explore the methods in which timber is harvested.

3. To identify timber harvesting products.

4. To determine the equipment used in the harvesting of timber.

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• Includes the following:– harvesting layout: the designated pattern of

land where harvesting will occur– Best Management Practices (BMPs):

structural, nonstructural and managerial techniques designed to prevent or reduce water pollution.

– topping: the practice of removing large branches or trunks from the top of a tree’s canopy

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• Includes the following:– Streamside Management Zones (SMZs):

land and vegetation areas adjacent to lakes or streams which are managed in order to maintain water quality, aquatic habitat, wildlife, production and other goals

– felling: the act of harvesting trees– bunching: the act of grouping or piling felled

trees together – skidding: the process of dragging logs from

the harvesting site

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• Includes the following:– loading: the process of placing logs onto

a cargo vehicle– hauling: the act of transporting logs from

the harvesting site to the point of delivery

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• Are dependent on the following:

– soil type

– slope

– water conditions

– wildlife habitat

– recreation

– needs of the landowner

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• Include the following:– selection– shelterwood– seed tree– clear-cut– mechanical

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• Is a system in which the forest is cut at regular intervals

• Requires only a small amount of trees to be cut at one time by the following:– group selection– single tree selection

• Is the most difficult of all methods

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• Includes the following advantages:

– continuous forest

– periodic flow of income

– growth and development of shade adapted species

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• Includes the following disadvantages:– costly to set up and put into

action– income generated slower– logging costs are higher– roads must be available for

transportation until the harvest is complete

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• Uses partial cuttings over a certain period of time to gradually remove the entire forest

• Allows the regeneration of desirable tree species in order to establish a new forest

• Includes the following steps:– first partial cut – allows for light to reach

forest floor and encourages regeneration– second partial cut – cuts the remaining

overstory trees and allows for more light to reach the growing trees

– third partial cut – all overstory trees are cut and removed, therefore the forest consists of only new growth 12

• Includes the following advantages:

– allows for regeneration of desirable species

– adaptable to favor certain tree species

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• Includes the following disadvantages:– expensive to set up and operate– income generated slower– logging costs are higher– roads must be kept open until the process is

finished– young growth can be damaged from

continued harvesting

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• Is the same as the shelterwood method except fewer trees are left

• Requires two cuts– first cut – removes almost all the

trees, and the trees left behind supply seeds for new growth

– second cut – the seed trees are removed once the new seedlings have been established

• Is commonly used for loblolly and white pine species

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• Includes the following advantages:– allows for selection of genetically superior

stands– seed trees can be used for insurance after

the second harvest• Includes the following disadvantages:

– seed trees can be easily damaged by wind, lightning strikes or insects

– limited to forests with species that can withstand the elements in which they are exposed to after the cut

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• Is the oldest method of forest regeneration• Removes all the trees in the forest and creates a

new even aged stand• Produces harsh visual results• Is commonly used to remove diseased or insect

infested trees

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• Has been developed in recent years to reduce unwanted visual results in the following ways:– harvested areas are shaped to blend in with

the landscape– buffer strips are left to provide wildlife habitat

and protect water quality– seed roads and landings are created to cover

exposed soil

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• Are the actions used by loggers to remove trees from the site of harvesting to another location, such as a timber mill

• Vary depending on the following:– size and type of trees– tools and equipment available– location of the harvesting site

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• Include the following:– tree-length logging – trees are felled, de-

limbed and topped at the stump– full-tree logging – trees are felled and

transported with tops and limbs intact, then de-limbed, topped and bucked at another area

– cut-to-length logging –trees are felled, de-limbed, bucked and sorted at the stump area; used for larger trees

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Bucked: The process of cutting a felled and de-limbed tree into smaller logs.

• Include the following advantages:– speeds up the process of harvesting– allows for a structured and organized

harvesting• Include the following disadvantages:

–  very dangerous– may remove nutrients and soil cover from the

site of harvesting, incurring long term damage

– Leaves debris which may lead to potential forest fire hazards

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• Include the following:

–pulpwood

–sawlogs

–specialty wood products

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• Consists of trees grown with the specific purpose of supplying soft timber used in making paper products

• Is in greater demand for new uses as a bio-fuel• Is usually obtained from four types of woody

materials:– open-grown trees, or those with a large amount of

branches low on the trunk– dead or diseased trees– tops, or branches, from trees used as sawlogs– trees which are too small to be used as sawlogs

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• Are the parts of the tree which will be processed at a sawmill

• Consist of timber which will be processed into lumber

• Account for the most financially important part of the tree

• Differ from pulpwood in that they are larger in diameter, straighter and have a lower frequency of knots

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• Are products created from logs cut specifically for that purpose rather than from commercial lumber or plywood

• Were first made in local shops by rural craftsmen who specialized in making a product that could not be purchased from a store

• Include the following:– baseball bats– baskets– clothespins– paddles and oars– picture frames– skis– wooden furniture

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• Includes the following:– saws – blades used to harvest trees– feller-bunchers – large machine which cuts

down the tree then lays it with other felled timber

– pre-hauler –machine used to gather the processed bunches

– skidders – vehicle used to move logs over rough terrain

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• Includes the following:– whole tree chippers – large machines used to

reduce whole trees into smaller parts, such as wood chips or sawdust

– loaders – vehicle used to load logs, wood chips and other materials onto another piece of machinery

– hauling vehicles – the vehicle used to transport logs from the cut site to another location

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• Soil type, slope, water conditions, wildlife habitat, recreation and landowner need’s are all factors that must be considered when determining which timber harvesting method to use

• The clear cut method removes all trees from the forest while the selection method allows for continuous growth

• The shelterwood and seed tree methods both require multiple cuts

• Pulpwood is now being used as a bio-fuel in addition to being used to make paper products

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1. The act of harvesting trees is also known as ___________?

2. __________ a system in which the forest is cut at regular intervals.

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3. An advantage of the shelterwood method is that it allows for regeneration of desirable species

a. true

b. false

4. The process of cutting a felled and de-limbed tree into smaller logs is also known as ________.

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5. Which timber harvesting method requires two cuts?

6. Name two specialty wood products.

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7. Which of the products of harvesting is now being used as a bio fuel?

8. Hauling vehicles are used to load logs, wood chips and other materials onto another piece of machinery

a. true

b. false

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9. Sawlogs consist of timber which will be processed into lumber.

a. true

b. false

10.Name two mechanical methods of timber harvesting.

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• (1998-2009). Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Idaho Forest Products Commission: http://www.idahoforests.org/

• Sargent, M.S. and Carter, K.S., ed. 1999. Managing Michigan Wildlife: A Landowners Guide. Michigan United Conservation Clubs, East Lansing, MI. 279 pp.

• Virginia Department of Forestry. (1997-2009). Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Virginia.gov: http://www.dof.virginia.gov

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Project Coordinator:

Meghan Blanek

Kellie Pond

Brandon O’Quinn

Production Manager:

Dusty Moore

Executive Producers:

Gordon Davis, Ph.D.,

Jeff LansdellGraphic Designer:

Ann Adams

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