HARVESTING ON PEATLANDS - A CHALLENGE

摘要

Harvesting conditions on peatlands are difficult due to the small average stem size and low removal. The main problems in peatland harvesting are not technical but economic. Machines with lower capital costs can be one solution for thinnings. Small, 8- to 11-tonne one-grip harvesters costing 150000-230000 ? and harvester-forwarders carrying out both cutting and forwarding can be cost competitive in peatland harvesting. For forest haulage a medium-sized forwarder with a load capacity of 10-12 tonnes is a cost competitive solution. With small harvesters it is possible to use the cutting strip method, which allows a longer distance between forwarding strip roads. With the cutting strip method, the amount of tree damage is slightly higher, but the distribution of the remaining trees is more equal than with the usual method using a strip road distance of 20 metres. In peatlands tree quality varies considerably, and a smaller number of high quality trees must be removed from strip roads when using the cutting strip method.