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2 THE RURAL VOICE
Feedback
Not a good example
of woodlot safety
Being a safety -conscious forestry
person. 1 was a little surprised at the,
picture on the cover of the October
issue .
The cutter's hearing protection
and face screen were up on top of his
hard hat and not in the proper
position at all to be of any use to
protect him. He is not wearing
chainsaw gloves either, and possibly
no leg protection.
In summary, he is a good example
of what not to do, and a bad choice
for your cover.
– Murray Hall
Wingham Forestry Service.
Wingham
Diameter -based
cutting more
productive
The article "Spare the Axe" in the
October 2002 edition of The Rural
Voice does not educate the reader on
the subject of tree harvesting in
Southwestern Ontario.
There is no evidence that the
survey by the Maitland Valley
Watershed Partnership can be
labelled a study. The only fact it
appears to prove is simply if you cut
fewer trees at any given time, there
will be more trees remaining. In order
for the survey to qualify as a
comprehensive study, the following
criteria must be considered in the
agenda. For any given woodlot it is
necessary to tally the volume and
value of timber removed over the last
35 to 40 years, which should include
two substantial cuts. It is necessary to
include the results of the most recent
harvest. Finally. using the statistics
previously obtained, the volume and
timing of the next two harvests can
be predicted. If the above criteria is
considered, it soon becomes obvious
that the diameter -based cutting
system is more productive than
leaving older larger trees scattered
throughout the woodlot. Over a
period of four to five cuts the
woodlot will simply produce more
volume. Minimum density criteria
(Basal) is detrimental to this process
because it encourages the retention of
older, less desirable species and
quality of trees.
The article aptly describes how a
woodlot will fill in with saplings if
the large trees are removed. This is a
good thing and ensures future
harvests. Contrary to the opinion
forwarded by the article, ash is a
preferred species which grows
plentiful and quickly when sunshine
is available. A few years ago ash was
more valuable than maple and is
simply the victim of a short-term
market fad at the present. time. Hard
maple will only tolerate partial shade
in order to thrive.
Richard Keeso's vigorous support
of the "All Age" criteria is somewhat
suspect. First and foremost Keeso is a
businessman. Basically, at the present
time he operates his mill utilizing
purchased logs and standing timber
marked by consultants. He does not
own any sizable acreage of land
growing timber. Therefore, the "All
Age Class" criteria would not
interfere with any long-term Forest
Management Planning established by
his firm. Unlike the rest of the
industry, he does not evaluate and
calculate volume of timber observing
diameter -based restrictions. The firm
is operating at a competitive
disadvantage versus the balance of
the industry. It is necessary to deal
with more vendors and operate over
more acreage to acquire the necessary
log supply.
Keeso supports the principle of the
presently proposed bylaw in Bruce
because it would legislate the balance
of the industry to purchase timber by
the same methods. Contrary to the