Logging is the process of cutting down trees, an element of the logging task. The person who cuts down the trees is a feller. A feller buncher is a machine capable of cutting down a single large tree or grouping and cutting down several small ones simultaneously. In manual felling, an ax, saw or chainsaw is used to cut down a tree, followed by brushcutter and cutting in traditional applications.
In the modern commercial timber industry, logging is often followed by delimbing and trawling. Directional felling is a specific tree cutting technique in which the operator determines the direction of fall before cutting. Wherever possible, trees should be cut down in the direction of existing gaps in the canopy to reduce damage to nearby standing wood. In general, trees should be felled towards or away from the skating rinks, preferably at an oblique angle to the sliding direction.
Felling away from the slide path will reduce problems for the extraction team when the treetops are large, while felling to the slide path can substantially reduce the extraction distance. Maintenance logging is the periodic felling of some immature trees to allow valuable species to become dominant, to improve the quality of wood and to increase the productivity of a forest. For example, in a two-storey stand of mature poplar (understory) and young spruce (understory), the main use felling is used to remove poplar and maintenance felling in the removal of spruce (to provide more light and weaken the competition of the roots). If the tree needs to be removed and you suspect that logging will affect a power line, call the power company. A forest regeneration system that opens the canopy through small groups of felling (small crops) that create spaces where regeneration can occur is often referred to as a group selection harvest practice. The first and second types of maintenance logging are carried out every two to three years, the third type every five to ten years and the fourth type every ten to 15 years.
Some secondary forest species are found in the tropics, and others grow in open spaces by rivers, in ancient landslides, in hollows caused by the fall of dead trees or trees, or where the forest has been knocked down by severe storms. An experiment was conducted with regard to continuous cutting of trees in boom corridors, which could lead to an increase in productivity for harvesters. This resulted in a notable increase in wood production since its implementation. There was also an impressive result from initial geysers that saved seven mature pines from being cut down within a year. Logging is an important part of forestry management that involves cutting down trees for various purposes such as obtaining wood, renovating forests, improving quality of wood and increasing productivity. It requires careful planning and execution with safety measures taken into consideration.
Directional felling should be done towards existing gaps in canopy for minimal damage while maintenance logging should be done periodically for desired results.
