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Abstract
Worldwide demand for wood and wood products will continue to increase as global human population increases. These increasing demands for wood will continue to provide economic incentives for non-industrial private forest-land (NIPF) owners to increase the availability and quality of wood fiber harvested from their lands. The challenge is to encourage and facilitate NIPF owners and other commercial forest industries to support these demands without compromising their own short- and long-term economic and other ownership goals.Over the years silvicultural researchers have developed methods for growing quality trees faster and in more ecologically, environmentally, and socially acceptable ways. Simultaneously, harvesting researchers have developed an enormous database on alternative logging technologies to harvest timber in economically and environmentally acceptable ways. This study demonstrates that integrating what we know about growing trees with what we know about harvesting them can increase the availability of wood fiber and add value to future crops. Results for the oak/hickory forest type in West Virginia show that up to 1,736.61 ft3/acre of wood fiber can be harvested 10 years sooner than usual by simply matching size of machine to wood harvested. Specifically, the study focused on the gains that can be made by matching size of machines to size of wood harvested, by utilizing harvesting machines better and more efficiently, and by training machine operators to be more efficient. Gains of up to 40 percent in present net worth can be attained by early thinning of a stand when harvesting machines are matched to wood size harvested. Results of the study benefit loggers, planners, managers, forest industry, NIPF owners, and society in general.
Parent Publication
Citation
LeDoux, Chris B. 1999. Harvesting strategies for increasing the availability and quality of hardwood fiber. In: Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Loftis, David L., eds. 1999. Proceedings, 12th central hardwood forest conference; 1999 February 28-March 1-2; Lexington, KY. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-24. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 293 p.
