Most types of improved forest management project methods permit timber harvest, as long as standing forest carbon increases above baseline over the project term. Most standards do not require that the full forest area, but some do require that all land holdings can demonstrate sustainable harvest levels to ensure against leakage or the timber harvest merely moving elsewhere. The commercial timber operation must be designed and in full compliance with the goals of the Improved Forestry Management Carbon Sequestration program.
NAVF Carbon, with the assistance of our tribal economic development advisory board, has identified several Native American, First Nation, and Timber Management Organizations that have run profitable timber operations or have been instrumental in retooling existing timber mills with updated technology that allowed them to compete in today’s market.
Five common challenges that have been reported by our ecological teams are:
a) Increased investment in equipment, not permanent building costs
b) Significantly reduced road transport costs to and from a traditional mill
c) Allow unusual timber, character or sizes to could not be processed in a sawmill, non-specialized equipment
d) Produce “Just In Time,” on-site timber orders gives machine versatility E.g., planks, beams, gateposts, flooring, feather edged cladding boards, etc. all out of the same mobile mill
e) Produce valuable by-products such as sawdust that you can use yourself or sell on as a product
f) Ability to run more crews simultaneously, at multiple locations
Net Impact – 200-300% through mobile saw-milling than timber sold from a traditional mill.
Timber Operations Equipment
Product and volume will determine the types of mobile mills. Models vary from small, portable saws to large trailer mounted saws with the frequent use in cutting round timber over 25cm in diameter and 2m in length.
Mill Types
Mobile Chainsaw Mills
Chainsaw mills are the cheapest types of the mill to purchase. These are very effective at producing minor amounts of timber on-site for the small-scale user. They are portable and easy to set up. Although cheap to buy, they are slow, and more waste is generated because of the full cut of the chain and are therefore not suited to producing valuable timber.
Mobile Bandsaw
For commercial timberlands, Mobile bandsaws have a fast cutting speed, a narrow saw cut, and low energy demands. Many weigh about a ton, are towable behind a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and take very little time to set up, sometimes only 10 minutes. Narrow or wide bandsaws are available. Mobile bandsaws are the most common portable sawmill for hire and can cut logs as large as 90 centimeters in diameter into products ranging from beams to veneers.
Portable Circular Saws
Ideally, for dense woodlands, portable circular saws which are very compact to transport and can large amounts of timber quickly. For small logs, trailer-mounted, modern high-speed circular sawmills are the fastest cutting mills for small diameter logs that can be managed by a two-person team. The saw sits within a carriage unit, which runs on rails either side of the trunk and is pushed or wound through the wood. Two-cut circular saws can swivel through 90 degrees to cut in the horizontal and the vertical planes while the log remains at ground level. Due to this sawing method, there is no requirement to turn the log as with mobile bandsaws, which cut in one plane. The depth of cut is limited compared with a bandsaw, so to saw wider pieces such as beams, the saw can be reversed for a second cut. Metal rails can be joined on some models enabling very long logs to be sawn. Mobile circular saws generally produce a wider cut (kerf) than mobile bandsaws. The Blossom Double-Slabber is a type of mobile sawmill that uses two circular blades at once. It has been designed to process low-grade, small diameter timber and produce products like flooring boards and fence posts.
Extraction Equipment
The goal is to bring the mobile sawmill as close as possible to the felled trees. If this is not possible, the timber will need to be extracted to the milling site using a form of extraction equipment. For small-scale extraction on an undemanding terrain, tractor-based machinery is adequate. Single drum, 3-point linkage winches are often used can enable the logs to be pulled to the loading or working area. A skidding cone can be fixed in front of the logs to prevent them from digging into the ground when being winched. Logs can be attached to a skidding bar on a 3-point linkage and driven out behind the tractor, although cleaning the logs after extraction will be necessary to prevent damage to the saw blade during processing. Most forms of removal may cause some damage to the soft or wet ground; hence, removal will be preferable in the dry season.
Miscellaneous Prep and Salvage Equipment
Peelers and pointers are also available, which can make fencing stakes. Shredders and chippers can convert surplus material into a useful product for mulches or woodchip heating requirements. Some of the equipment is available for hire to the woodland owner. For tribal and those living in rural communities, a mechanical firewood processor is a practical way to convert pieces of timber into an abundant supply of firewood for the tribal members.
Other Equipment
JIT Milling
Just in Time, Milling is a more cost-efficient method of holding stock. Its purpose is to minimize the amount of lumber held at any one time; however, this can only be accomplished through mobile sawmills and proper planning. NAVF Carbon planning will focus on stacking, quality assurance and efficiencies in not having to restack or move lumber before the end customer distribution on stacked.
Technical Aspects in Timber Drying
It’s essential in any timber operation to lower the moisture content to around 10%. The aim is to reduce the moisture content to about 15-25%, and stacking the timber correctly will help this process. To measure the moisture content of your piece of wood, a meter can be purchased. The stacking site should not only be level, but the stack should be covered from the rain and out of direct sunlight. For dry climates or seasons, arid temperatures would allow sufficient airflow through the pile.
Legal Considerations
Compliance with forestry law is critical to ensure that the federal government never challenges timber operations. Especially given many timber operations stop due to endangered species. Forestry Law relates to all statutes and regulations that deal with the preservation of forests and parks, reforestation activities to ensure the sustainability of the lands, and the prevention of illegal logging activities. These laws derive from both federal and state sources. Preservation, A significant focus of forestry law, is preservation. These laws also affect those in more urban settings, by regulating, for example, the removal of trees from personal property, or requiring special permits to trim or cut down trees over a specific diameter or age.
