Year of publication 2004

This book supports professional foresters making decisions for harvesting operations in storm damaged areas. It aims to help both public institutes and wood-chain professionals to prepare their future actions and improve cooperation in the event of hurricanes. It is of utmost importance to prepare and to decide, before the storm occurs, which actions will have to be taken in terms of methods to apply, training to provide and the different regulations with which to comply. The main objective of this manual is to contribute to answering the primary questions addressed to foresters and wood-industry managers facing storm-damaged forests on: how wind fallen or broken trees can be harvested safely to prevent fungal or insect attack and fire risk and so to allow reforestation in ways that are economically and ecologically viable, and how wood quality can be maintained by efficient log storage and conservation methods in order to preserve supplies to the wood industry and foresters' incomes. In fact, the large and sudden supply of raw material that subsequently becomes available may by far exceed the conversion and sales capabilities of the sawmilling industry. Solutions such as storage of logs on site or in special storage yards should therefore be seriously considered in order to spread the supply of wood over a longer period of time and to avoid loss in value. Advice for the proper handling of round timber during transportation is also provided together with some basic instructions on safety at work.