Abstract:

The general objective of this concerted action is to introduce and develop new and feasible small-scale technology-based wood harvesting concepts to promote the employment and viability of forested rural areas in Europe. Specific objectives are to:

• introduce the present situation of small-scale wood harvesting technology in Europe;
• to introduce development needs and possibilities of small-scale wood harvesting technology;
• to demonstrate local/regional small-scale wood harvesting practices; to promote the technology transfer;
• and to plan forthcoming RDT projects.

Objectives:

General Objective

The nature of forest work, its socio-economic environment and technological experience and practices in wood harvesting differ considerably between the various European countries and regions. Through exchange of experience, potential forestry practices and information, small-scale wood harvesting technology can be transferred between regions and countries and adjusted successfully to different environments. The results of this CA will be published in a final report (Report 4) as a synthesis of the results of the specific objectives (i-iv). In many European countries, non-industrial private forestry supports the employment and viability of rural areas. In this CA it is expected that in different European countries new small-scale wood harvesting concepts combining self-reliance and co-operation of forest owners to the operations of rural small-enterprises can be developed and applied to small-scale wood harvesting technology in an efficient way. Since the operating costs of harvesters and forwarders designed for final cuts are high, their use is not profitable when harvesting small-sized trees from thinnings, for example. Nowadays, small-sized trees are mainly cut using manual methods. Promising experiments with small-sized harvesters and cutting devices connected to the agricultural tractor have been made. The enhanced application of small-scale wood harvesting technology will increase job opportunities in small-scale forestry and offer active forest owners the possibility of expanding their wood harvesting operations to the level of small rural enterprises. Innovative forest owners have made their wood harvesting more efficient by sharing the work with each other and/or by specialising in different operations. Small-scale forestry has offered a basis for co-operation between forest owners and for the activities of small rural enterprises. The concept of co-operation between forest owners, e.g. within the framework offered by local forest management associations, has proved to be successful. When marketing both the wood and the services of small rural wood harvesting enterprises to the absentee forest owners, the role of local forest management associations can be vitally important. Another promising concept is heating entrepreneurship. It combines the harvesting of energy wood and the operating of heating plants, and offers self-reliant forest owners possibilities to expand their activities and earn extra revenues.

Specific objectives

1. The present situation of small-scale wood harvesting technology in Europe. The adoption of small-scale technology will be conditioned by country-specific differences in forestry practices, individual management objectives of different farm foresters, the nature of support and regulatory institutions, and the extent to which there are markets for timber of different volumes and of different quality. Due to the natural, cultural, historical and economical reasons the harvesting technologies vary greatly between the regions and countries of Europe. Thus, the reviews of the present situation will cover aspects of technology, operating conditions, wood markets and socio-economic environment. National reviews will be published first as an interim report (Report 1).
2. Development needs and possibilities of small-scale wood harvesting technology. Small-scale technology offers a solid basis on which to develop wood harvesting in economically, culturally and environmentally sound ways. Examples of R&D work to be promoted are light agricultural tractor-mounted cutting devices and harvesting of undelimbed small-sized trees. In order to extend the applicability of small-scale wood harvesting technology, joint European development needs and possibilities from the technological and socio-economic point of view will be determined and will also consider the ecological value of the small-scale wood harvesting technology.
3. Demonstration of local/regional practices. In the field of small-scale wood harvesting technology and related areas of rural development, the communication between researchers, R&D personnel, rural decision-makers, forest owners, manufacturers and users of small-scale technology as an extended audience and the consortium will be enhanced. The benefit from organising the three excursions will be that of additional experience being brought to this CA. By collecting information on local and regional conditions and on ways of action, new applicable solutions can be identified and technology between regions can be transferred.
4. Promoting technology transfer. Marketing and technical information concerning products and their producers in the area of small-scale wood harvesting technology will be compiled to form a database. The collected data will be used in this CA to improve the possibilities of technology transfer between different regions/countries. After the completion of this CA, the database will be available via Internet free of charge.
5. Planning of forthcoming RTD projects. The ideas that arise when studying the present situation of small-scale wood harvesting technology, when analysing development needs and possibilities, when demonstrating wood harvesting practices, and when collecting marketing and technical information concerning small-scale technology will be analysed and drafted in the form of one or morel RTD project proposals.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Auvo KAIVOLA / Work Efficiency Institute, TTS-Institute FINLAND

Participant

• Reidar SKAAR / Agricultural University of Norway NORWAY
• K STAMPFER / BOKU - Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur Wien AUSTRIA
• Raffaele SPINELLI / CNR Istituto Ricerca sul Legno ITALY
• T GULLBERG / Dalarna University SWEDEN
• Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute DENMARK
• Bart VAN DER AA / Educational Forestry Centre BELGIUM
• Hardi TULLUS / Estonian Agricultural University ESTONIA
• A SKOUPY / Forest Management Institute CZECH REPUBLIC
• Martin ZIESAK / Technical University of Munich - TU-Forst GERMANY
• Paul MITCHELL / University of Aberdeen School of Resources, Environment and Society / UNITED KINGDOM
• Dr. SLEE / University of Aberdeen Department of Forestry / UNITED KINGDOM
• Juan PICOS MARTIN / University of Vigo EUET Forestais / SPAIN