Small parcel fuel reduction with a low-investment, high-mobility operation

Abstract

Fuel reduction treatments are especially urgent near homes, where a stand replacement fire would also endanger property and human lives. However, the forested properties associated with homes are often too small for cost-effective mechanized fuel treatment performed with traditional methods and equipment. This project tested a small rubber-tracked skid-steer specially modified for forestry operations that can provide all the functions of a complete harvesting system. The skid-steer can, alternately, carry a hot saw for tree felling, a processor to delimb and buck felled trees, a brush cutting head for mastication, and a log-grapple to transport logs and trees. All of the equipment can be transported on a trailer pulled by a heavy pickup truck, which makes for fast, economical movement between project sites. The study confirmed that this system is well suited to small-parcel conditions around home sites and performs best on even terrain, moderate slopes, and softwood trees with a dbh between 5 and 8 in. It took from 7 to 15 productive machine-hours ac-1 to perform all treatment phases (i.e., mastication, felling, processing, and skidding). The occurrence of delays significantly increased this figures, bringing the average 9.7 productive hours ac-1 to 13.5 worksite hours. Treatment cost was estimated at $480 ac-1 and $1, 146 ac-1 for whole-tree and cut-to-length harvesting, respectively. In addition to offering a reasonable treatment cost, the system has the advantage of requiring a low investment, which allows small-scale enterprises to get into the business. Copyright © 2009 by the Society of American Foresters.