The demonstration evaluated cut-to-length harvesting systems on a productive northern hardwood site with highly moisture-sensitive soils, a situation common throughout eastern North America. New harvest system technologies may provide increased access while minimizing the potential for negative environmental impacts.

Five, new, cut-to-length harvesting systems were demonstrated to a group of several hundred loggers, foresters, and other interested individuals in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in May, 2001. The demonstration evaluated the systems on a productive northern hardwood site with highly moisture-sensitive soils. These soils and forest types are common throughout temperate forest regions of eastern North America and present timber harvest challenges throughout the year. New harvest system technologies may provide increased access while minimizing the potential for negative environmental impacts. The results of this project will have particular applicability to the Northeast, Midwest, and eastern Canada.

Project components included on-the-ground demonstration and subsequent evaluation of five ground logging systems, monitoring and evaluation of environmental impacts and cost-effectiveness of alternative systems, evaluations of the systems by a variety of resource and logging professionals, and a participants’ questionnaire. The results of this effort will also be broadcast via an interactive satellite conference to a variety of downlink sites across eastern North America in March, 2002.

Several panelists will present the results of the demonstration, evaluation, and satellite conference and answer audience questions about this highly collaborative effort. Included in the presentation will be broadcast of a video filmed at the demonstration site, showing the harvesting systems at work and containing participant interviews.

This project was funded in part by the USDA Forest Service’s Wood Education & Resource Center (WERC). Additional resources were contributed by numerous collaborators from the public and private sectors.

New knowledge, skills, or insights that participants will gain from session: 1) Increased awareness of suitable and practical logging systems for use on moisture sensitive hardwood sites. 2) Understanding of the environmental impacts and cost-effectiveness of alternative logging systems used on these sites, with an emphasis on cut-to-length harvesting systems.