Harvesting trees

One of the advantages of a plantation is that all the trees are of the same age. Plantation trees grown for timber production mature at between 30-50 years. By this time the plantation has been thinned several times and it is now time to clear-fell the forest. Clear- felling means the cutting down of all the trees. This is done using a mechanical-harvester, a cutting, stripping and handling machine which is mounted on the hydraulic-arm of a caterpillar tractor. The harvester is largely controlled by computer; it grabs hold of the tree and cuts it at the base, strips it of any branches and foliage, and cuts the trunk into standard logs. Once all the trees are removed the site is ploughed, drained and replanted. The logs are transported to a sawmill.

SAWMILL At the sawmill the logs are firstly sorted or graded. There are three grades: (1) large sawlog: over 20cm diameter. These are used for producing construction timber. (2) small sawlog: between 10cm - 20cm diameter. These are used for making low-value products like pallets, cases, sheds. (3) Pulpwood: less than 10cm diameter. Pulpwood is mostly forest-thinnings. It is used in the production of paper and of manufactured particle boards. Before the logs are sawn up in the mill they are debarked, either in the mill-yard or at a forest station. Tree-bark is now used a lot as a weed suppresser in parks and gardens.

Timber Industry

Distribution of Timber