TREE FARMING GUIDELINES for private growers part 3 forest engineering forest engineering chapter 1 introduction CONTENTS Introduction Introduction Forest engineering includes all the activities (management and administration) that are necessary to transfer the standing tree into a product that is suitable for further processing or woodworking.1 Historically, forest engineering activities were associated with timber harvesting, timber transport and road construction. The importance of forest engineering is reflected by the fact that it constitutes between 60% and 80% of the operational budget. It therefore requires that operations are performed cost-effectively and efficiently. 1 Warkotch - 1987. 1 forest engineering chapter 2 harvesting and transport terminology CONTENTS Harvesting and transport terminology Harvesting and transport terminology To ensure that there is a common understanding as to the various activities within a harvesting and transport operation, the following flowchart adapted from Forest Engineering Southern Africa (FESA)1 can be used. Figure 2.1: Harvesting and transport activities terminology. 2 forest engineering chapter 2: harvesting and transport terminology The physical harvesting cycle starts at stump with the preparation phase. The preparation phase is made up of the activities of felling, debarking, debranching, cross-cutting and stacking. Primary transport is the extraction of timber from the stump area to the compartment roadside (the red arrow in Figure 2.1). This can be executed by whatever means available, for example manual extraction, animal slipping, skidding by skidder or tractor, forwarder, agricultural tractor/trailer configuration or even chute or cable yarding. Secondary transport is the subsequent transport of the same timber from the compartment roadside to an intermediate storing place or directly to the mill. Any distinct and separate operations within these two transport phases are derivatives of primary and secondary transport and should be closely associated with them. See Figure 2.1 above for illustration. Extended primary transport If timber is moved from the stump area past the traditional compartment roadside landing directly to either an intermediate storage site (depot, rail siding or merchandising yard) or a processing plant (pulp mill, sawmill), it is classified as extended primary transport. Primary transport methods and systems are used in the entire process. In many ways this is the current ‘shorthaul’ activity. Secondary intermediate transport If timber has undergone primary or extended primary transport and is in temporary storage (not at the mill) and is reloaded onto another mode of transport, it is being subjected to secondary transport. However, if this timber is once again moved to temporary storage sites, a depot or rail siding and does not reach the mill, it has not been subjected to the complete cycle of secondary transport, and has thus been subjected to secondary intermediate transport. It has not reached the mill. Secondary terminal transport. If timber is transported directly from a compartment roadside or depot or rail siding to the mill, it has been subjected to secondary terminal transport. 1 Forest Engineering Southern Africa, Technical note 01/2003. 3 forest engineering chapter 3 operational compartment planning CONTENTS 3.1 Harvesting planning 3.2 Operational compartment planning 3.1 Harvesting planning Proper harvesting planning ensures that: harvesting operations are performed to uniform and acceptable safety, environmental, production and financial standards; harvesting operations utilize the most effective systems in terms of cost, productivity, safety and environmental impacts; and measurable harvesting operation goals and targets are set against which performance can be checked and corrective action taken if required.1 3.2 Operational compartment planning The operational compartment plan focuses on planning the physical operations in the compartment that is to be harvested. The objective of the compartment plan is to define the harvesting operation in terms of equipment boundaries, felling direction, direction of extraction, management of special zones, production levels, task requirements, safety precautions and time frames. An operational compartment plan should normally include the following detail: 3.2.1 A contour map of an appropriate scale (1:5000 should be fine) showing: compartment boundaries; compartment roads; streams and stream crossings; power lines and telephone lines; other physical attributes that could affect the harvesting operation; special management zones including safety areas; a functional terrain classification matching harvesting system to the terrain; felling direction; special felling conditions and/or precautions; extraction routes; cable yarding corridors; location of landings; location of cable yarding anchors, tail anchor trees and intermediate supports (where applicable); 4 forest engineering chapter 3: operational compartment planning main haulage routes; and direction of timber flow and timber haulage. 3.2.2 A harvesting and transport schedule showing: required harvesting equipment per terrain class/harvesting system; detailed task requirements for each harvesting activity to ensure that bottlenecks are identified and eliminated; planned production and stock levels; and manpower requirements based on planned productivities. 3.2.3 A harvesting time-schedule indicating planned start and end dates. 3.2.4 A detailed compartment costing exercise. 3.2.5 Quality, quantity and safety control mechanisms. The compartment plan should ensure that all pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvesting activities are identified and catered for as per applicable ISO, FSC or other management requirements. 1 University of Stellenbosch, unpublished study notes. 5 forest engineering chapter 4 timber preparation CONTENTS 4.1 Felling 4.2 Debarking 4.3 Debranching 4.4 Cross-cutting 4.5 Infield stacking 4.6 Mechanised timber preparation 4.7 Mechanised felling 4.8 Mechanical debarking Timber preparation normally includes the activities of felling, debranching, topping, debarking, cross-cutting and stacking. These activities can be done motor-manually or mechanically. A major portion of felling in South Africa is still done motor-manually. 4.1 Felling As with all other forestry operations, fellers must be suitably trained for the job. Further information regarding chainsaw operations can be found in the South African Chainsaw Safety and Operating Handbook published by FESA. 4.1.1 Equipment for motor-manual felling: chainsaw; felling lever. 4.1.2 Personal protective equipment: approved hard hat with visor and earmuffs; brightly coloured T-shirt and/or high visibility vest; appropriate gloves – if required; approved cutter pants; steel capped safety boots; First Aid kit and pressure pad (bomb bandage), rain suit when required. 4.1.3 Other: tool pouch with required tools (round file, flat file, combination spanner, depth gauge tool); fuel and oil container; cloth or brush for cleaning purposes; fire extinguisher; first aid kit. 6 forest engineering chapter 4: timber preparation 4.1.4 Felling technique: Ensure that no other person is within the felling danger zone of at least two tree lengths radius from the tree to be felled. The danger zone is 360° around the tree to be felled. Determine an appropriate escape route. Normally 45° away from the felling direction. Ensure the escape route is open and clear of obstacles. The following schematic drawing shows the danger zone and the escape route around the tree to be felled (see Figure 4.1). Felling direction Escape route Two tree length radius Figure 4.1: Schematic representation of felling danger zone and escape route. Check the possible felling direction by taking into account the following: the angle at which the tree is leaning; crown size and overhang; neighbouring trees; wind direction; planned extraction direction; slope on which the tree is growing; environmental considerations; silvicultural requirements. Fell the tree using the following three cuts: directional notch (top cut); directional notch (undercut) - angle to be at least 45°; felling cut. The tree is steered in the desired direction by creating a felling hinge. Figure 4.2 below shows the three felling cuts. 7 forest engineering chapter 4: timber preparation Hinge Felling direction Felling cut Directional notch Figure 4.2: Schematic representation of felling cuts. 4.1.5 Felling production Felling operations are normally controlled by giving a pre-determined minimum production (task) level. The following factors could influence felling productivity: safety considerations; tree size; tree diameter; espacement; terrain; tree species; debarking percentage (where applicable); stem form; crown shape and size; lean of the tree; felling direction; undergrowth; serviceability and suitability of equipment; operator skills; cutter working alone or with an assistant; subsequent operations to be completed by the operator and assistant (where applicable); environmental considerations; and 8 forest engineering chapter 4: timber preparation silvicultural considerations. The production levels for Eucalyptus and Acacia felling, debarking and stacking, which are given in Annexure “B”, are based on the following task descriptions: The cutter and an assistant are responsible for felling, cross-cutting, debranching and stacking of brushwood. The debarkers are responsible for debarking