Today we have the knowledge and the technology to harvest and transport timber without causing damage to soil and water. In the film Traceless, machine operators and researchers show how it is possible.
“It takes us longer to find the right main logging roads, due to more precipitation and shorter periods with frost in the ground. Quite often we have to drive around wetter patches to avoid rutting, and that takes extra time”, says Joacim Sandström, forest machine operator for Kents Skogsavverkning in Sweden. “But by doing this we avoid unnecessary and serious damages to soil and water.”
The film Traceless, produced by EFFORTE partner Skogforsk, addresses the challenges that logging operations might cause to soil and water. The film introduces how knowledge, bench marking and smart solutions have reduced serious damages due to heavy terrain transports.
In the film, we learn how machine operators use depth to water maps to identify areas in the terrain where the weight bearing capacity is lower. They also identify the spots where extra re-enforcement is needed, and they choose logging machines according to the conditions of the terrain.
In EFFORTE project, the depth to water maps are evaluated and developed further in collaboration with the operational forestry, forest entrepreneurs and logging operators.
“The work is concentrated to two main areas; spreading knowledge in workshops, seminars and training days, and research and development with the aim to improve and make models and decision tools more dynamic”, says programme director Isabelle Bergkvist from Skogforsk.
In addition, EFFORTE activities aim to introduce and improve the use of terrain and water within silviculture and nature conservation as well – to realise the great potential to improve productivity and sustainability in the whole chain of forestry.
The 28-minute film Traceless is produced by Heurgren Production on behalf of Skogforsk in collaboration with Norwegian Forestry Extension Institute.