Forest management planning is a significant component of timber harvesting. Landowners who are new to the idea of forestry often require the services of an experienced forest management company to conduct their timber harvesting and to help them choose the right harvesting methods. If you’re in the same boat, here’s what you should know about timber harvesting.

What is Timber Harvesting?

Timber harvesting is the practice of periodically harvesting trees to improve forest value and health. This is an essential forest management practice performed after thorough planning and consideration. It’s a critical process that comes with a significant amount of risk of environmental dangers and environmental losses if not performed with the help of a qualified forest management company. 

Reasons for Harvesting Timber

Harvesting timber successfully comes with a significant amount of benefits. Here are some of the reasons why it’s an excellent idea to think about harvesting timber.

Achieve the Maximum Product Value of Trees

The goal of harvesting timber is to make the best use of matured trees. When a tree reaches its total life’s weight and growth, from there it will only start deteriorating and dying. This is when timber harvesting comes in and allows landowners to receive income in exchange for the matured tree by harvesting and selling its wood. 

Enhance the Health of the Forest

The best way to protect and maintain the health of a forest is by ensuring that landowners do everything they can to improve the growth and living of trees and wildlife in the forest. Timber harvesting plays a significant role in this process by removing matured and dead trees, creating habitat that will allow wildlife to thrive.

Make Forests Fire-Resistant

Forest fires are always a risk. However, activities like timber harvesting can make a significant difference by decreasing the chance of fires. This is because timber harvesting removes fuel from the forest and establishes a significant amount of distance between the trees. As a result, the chances of fire spreading throughout the forest reduce simultaneously. 

The Process

The overall process of harvesting timber is simple, thanks to the availability of high-quality forestry services and advanced technology. The first step is for foresters to choose the right equipment and machinery to help you meet your harvesting goals without resulting in significant environmental destruction. Choosing the right machine depends on the method being used to harvest timber.

Next, Landowners and foresters must think about the most viable ways of developing roads and log landings. Some of the factors to consider in this process are finances, timing, and environmental impact, and safety.

Choosing the right time and pace for conducting harvesting operations is essential. This will allow loggers to haul the logs without affecting the soil all at the directing of your forester.

If you need a reliable, professional Forester for your harvest project, please consider Tall Pines Forest Management.  We’re one of the best forest management companies in Maine and have helped organize and manage many harvest operations with our harvest operation oversight services. We offer a wide range of forest management services in Maine, like timber appraisals, forest management plans, and even consulting on tax management plans and Carbon offsets.  Give us a call today to learn more.