Case study
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Joe - my job
Transcript
Hi, I'm Joe. I run a harvesting crew that carries out thinning operations in hardwood regrowth forests. -
Thinnings
Transcript
The purpose of thinning is to take out the poor quality and slow growing trees from an area so that the better quality trees can grow more vigorously. These good trees are called 'crop' trees, because one day they'll be the crop that's harvested for sawlogs. -
Monitoring
Transcript
One of the things I need to monitor is where the machine operators put the working tracks. We use the 'outrow and bay' method to set out the tracks. The 'outrow' is the track used by the harvester and forwarder. The bay is the area in-between outrows, which holds the retained trees, including the 'crop' and habitat trees. -
Outrow placing
Transcript
It's important that the outrows go straight up and down the slope, when they can. This helps keep the machine stable whilst it's working, and also lets the harvester fall trees across the slope, which is much easier than falling and processing up and downhill. -
Outrow width
Transcript
The outrows also need to be wide enough to allow the harvester and forwarder to carry out their work without damaging retained trees. This includes debarking and heading the logs, as well as leaving enough room for tail swing in the machine.