Forestry is currently experiencing one of its slumps, this is a global issue which is affecting everyone but people predicting that forestry is on the verge of collapse really don’t understand the industry at all.
Forestry is currently experiencing one of its slumps, this is a global issue which is affecting everyone but people predicting that forestry is on the verge of collapse really don’t understand the industry at all.
In almost 50 years of working in forestry I have concluded that it is like sailing a ship on stormy seas navigating a never-ending cycle of peaks and troughs.
In forestry there are so many other issues that affect us, and we have no control over these but understanding this makes us resilient.
Every year there is a slowdown in the autumn and winter, people stop their gardening projects and the building and construction trades slow down due to adverse weather conditions and shorter daylight hours.
The fungal disease Phytophthora ramorum killing the larch trees and the spruce bark beetle which is extensive throughout mainland Europe are factors affecting our current crisis. Once the pathogen or beetle is identified in an area, plant health felling must be carried out to prevent further spread.
Basically, we have had to over-harvest for the last few years to protect the remaining forests and when coupled with a slowdown of timber into the world’s biggest importer, China, this has created a surplus of timber which is affecting timber prices and normal timber harvesting production.
Ponsse and Rottne are two machine manufacturers which have announced a slowdown in their order books and are having to take steps to temporarily tighten their belts, I have heard from other equipment manufacturers that they will be taking similar steps.
This may all sound like doom and gloom, but this is a mere glitch in the cycle of forestry, and this is nothing compared to the Great Recession we experienced and survived in 2008/9.
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That’s a remarkable amount of work hours for a single machine, the Norcar 600 owned by Erkki Rinne is taken well care of, it even has the original Diesel engine.
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Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
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It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
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Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
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Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.
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Spring will soon be upon us where there will be an upturn in markets again, the UK is still ranked as the third biggest global importer of timber. In 2021/22 the UK imported over 28 million m³ so the demand for our own timber is still strong.
Wood is a wonderful product which is used to house, heat, feed, transport and clothe us and as the world’s population is continually rising so does the demand for timber products.
Forestry is full of resilient people whose glass is always half full and are blessed with a never be beat attitude.
It won’t be that long until we are rising to the crest of that wave again.
Forest Machine Magazine is written and edited by a forest professional with over 40 years hands on experience. We are dedicated to keeping you informed with all the latest news, views and reviews from our industry.
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