Tree Harvesting, Now and in the Future

The needs for wood fiber are doubling each 20 to 25 years. Adding to this the incorporation of this material into energy, it can be concluded that not only must production rates increase, but utilization of the available material must increase.

This paper reviews what recent technology advancements have been made in the harvesting phase of this industry, as well as reviews what future trends are taking place in the development of equipment for this industry. The paper particularly emphasizes that phase of harvesting that deals with the felling or extracting of the standing tree.