chainsaw

Ecological impacts of uncontrolled chainsaw milling on natural forests

sbritwum — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:47:08 +0000

Ecological impacts of uncontrolled chainsaw milling on natural forests

Description

Logging operations, conventional or otherwise can have both positive and negative ecological impacts on the forest ecosystem. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the ecological impacts of chainsaw milling in terms of its contribution to degradation of forest resources and damage on ecologically sensitive sites. Field assessments of ecological impacts of chainsaw milling were conducted in four Forest Reserves (Asenayo, Nkrabia, Tano Offin and Atiwa Range) and two areas outside forest reserve in the Goaso and Kade districts. We assessed selected ecological impact indicator variables related to illegal chainsaw logging and conventional logging along four transects laid at 400m intervals along the long axis of the compartments in the selected forest reserves. Assessment of the off-reserves was similarly done using the indicator variables applied in the forest reserves. The disturbance around a single felled tree and total area of operational zone disturbed appeared wider in chainsaw milling compared with conventional logging whereas in terms of forest canopy reduction no difference was observed between the impact of chainsaw milling and conventional logging as shown by comparative data from Asenayo Forest Reserve. The study also revealed that chainsaw millers fell wide range of tree sizes, unaware of the felling restrictions on harvestable diameters and more seriously do not pay attention to conservation practices. Our current results though do not support the general view that chainsaw milling is more wasteful than conventional milling (as conducted in Ghana) in terms of residue generation, however, there is strong evidence to indicate that in the short term uncontrolled chainsaw milling will have several negative
impacts on the forest ecosystem.

sbritwum Mon, 05/30/2011 - 12:47

Responsible party

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana

Attachment	Size
ecological_impact.pdf	933.65 KB

Forests and Forest-based Products for a Greener Future / Forests and Climate Change chainsaw / conventional / ecological / environmental / forests / impacts

Sawing guidelines for small-scale timber processing

sbritwum — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:05:13 +0000

Sawing guidelines for small-scale timber processing

Description

Timber sawing is aimed at producing sized timber from round logs. The process requires skill and the right machinery and equipment Large-scale sawmills as well as small-scale set ups have been used with different levels of success worldwide. In Kenya, while large-scale saw milling found acceptance, small-scale timber processing faced lack of technology and skills. The most common opinion therefore has been that sma1l-scale timber processing methods are wasteful and produce timber with very rough surfaces. These methods may however continue being used on the farms due to their advantages compared to the large-scale saw milling machinery.
Some of the advantages of small-scale timber processing methods are their ability to be used on the same site where the tree falls. This reduces the costs of extracting and moving the logs to a different sawing site. It also greatly reduces the potential environmental damages associated with timber logging practices in the large-scale sector due to the use of heavy logging equipment (Pasiecznik et al, 2006). They are also relatively cheap to buy and maintain. There are three main small-scale timber-sawing methods in Kenya; chain sawing, mobile bench sawing and pit sawing. These are used in different areas in single and some limes in combination.
Timber recovery is the amount of sized timber obtained from a given amount of logs and is sometimes referred to as sawn timber yield. Majority of the small-scale sawyers in Kenya have limited skills in sawing techniques used to increase timber recovery and quality. Thus, the average recovery is as low as 23% for chain saw operators and about 27% and 39% respectively for bench saw and pit saw operators at the sawing stage (Muthike. 2003a). The actual recovery from the available wood can also be controlled at every stage from tree felling to the timber handling before selling. Since about 50 to 80 percent of tota1 saw milling costs are in terms of raw materials, it is important for the sawyer to recover as much of the raw materials as possible. This calls for a good understanding of recovery rates and the factors influencing it. It is therefore important that mobile saw bench millers, chain saw operators and pit sawyers are educated on how to improve timber recovery and quality.
This manual aims at making available useful skills to sawyers and trainers involved in small-scale on-farm timber processing sector. It offers guidelines on the important steps to take during felling and sawing of timber using the sawing methods available to the sawyers. Equipment maintenance and safety have been included due to their direct influence to timber recovery and quality. By following these guidelines, the sawyer is expected to recover more of the available tree resources into quality, merchantable timber. Training sawyers on these sawing guidelines has resulted in improved timber recovery and quality, hence increases financial gains for both the sawyers and tree owners (Muthike, 2004b). The number of trees cut for sawing at any particular time for sawing is also reduced.

sbritwum Tue, 03/29/2011 - 07:05

Responsible party

Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)

Attachment	Size
SawingGuidelines.pdf	4.07 MB

Forests and People / Forests and Climate Change sawing / timber processing / chainsaw

Chainsaw Milling in Ghana Context, drivers and impacts

sbritwum — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:35:54 +0000

Chainsaw Milling in Ghana Context, drivers and impacts

Description

This report synthesizes the various studies and discussions that have been carried
out on chainsaw milling (CSM) in Ghana. It is targeted to policymakers, researchers
and indeed all stakeholders, both in Ghana and elsewhere. It is intended to provide
up-to-date information about chainsaw milling in Ghana. It builds on various reviews
and studies conducted between 2005 and 2009 (Odoom 2005; Adam et al. 2007a, b
and c; Marfo, Adam and Obiri 2009; and TIDD/FORIG 2009), and on papers presented
at an African regional workshop on chainsaw milling, held in Accra on 25–26
May 2009 (TBI 2009).
Although CSM for commercial purposes is prohibited by the Timber Resource Management
Regulations of 1998 (Legislative Instrument 1649), the activity has thrived.
It provides jobs for about 130,000 Ghanaians and livelihood support for about
650,000 people. CSM enjoys much public support, and many stakeholders — including
more than half of District Forest Managers — think the ban should be reviewed.
The demand for timber and the conventional sawmill industry’s inability to supply
the domestic demand by legal means remains the principal driver not only of CSM
but also of illegality in the timber industry in general. It has been difficult to implement
the CSM ban for several reasons:
• the demand for jobs for both rural youth and urban timber businesses;
• corruption among forestry officials, police and the joint FSD-military task force;
• political interferences in FSD operations;
• lack of political will to enforce the ban and implement alternatives; and
• strong support for CSM by local communities, particularly farmers — the
practice brings in about Ghana cedi (GHC) 33.6 million per year in the form
of informal payments, most of which benefit FSD officials, police, farmers and
chiefs (at time of writing, 1 US$ = 1.4 GHC).
CSM is the main supplier of lumber to the domestic market. It contributes about
84% of this lumber, with an estimated volume of 497,000 m3 and a market value of
about GHC 279 million. The urban financiers who support CSM operations capture
about 28% of this revenue; rural-based operators receive 19%. CSM provides an
average profit of about GHC 67 per m3 of lumber. A projected aggregate annual
profit of GHC 37 million is realized across the CSM trade chain. Chainsaw milling is
also the major supplier of lumber for overland export to neighbouring countries,
with an estimated volume of 260,000 m3.
The study demonstrates that chainsawn lumber is 12–74% cheaper than conventional
sawmill lumber, depending on species, dimension and quality. The CSM sector
processes about 72 species in more than 100 dimensions. It processes an estimated
840,000 trees a year with a roundwood volume of about 2.5 million m3, exceeding
Ghana’s Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) of 2 million m3 for the formal industry. CSM
recovers about 30% of tree volume, a lower rate than improved CSM with Logosol
attachments (33%), Wood-Mizer portable sawmills (56%) and sawmills (38%). Ghana loses a possible GHC 25 million annually in stumpage revenue from trees
illegally harvested by chainsaw operators; illegal tree sales by farmers to operators are
equivalent to about 38% of this amount (GHC 9.5 million).
The supply of legal timber to the domestic market is the most crucial issue in
addressing the problems associated with illegal CSM. Three policy options are
recommended to this end:
• the legal sawmill industry supplies all timber;
• the industry shares the market with artisanal groups applying improved forms
of CSM such as the use of Logosol; and
• artisanal groups supply all timber.
This synthesis provides some reflections on these options. Equitable benefit-sharing
to include farmers, tree tenure reforms and provision of competitive alternative livelihood
schemes are crucial in the ultimate success of any policy intervention to address
CSM

sbritwum Wed, 10/06/2010 - 10:35

Responsible party

Trobenbos International (TBI) & CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana

Funding bodies

European Commission & Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands

Attachment	Size
chainsaw_milling_ghana_marfo.pdf	1.17 MB

Forests and Forest-based Products for a Greener Future / Forests and Climate Change chainsaw / milling / ghana / drivers & impacts