New Zealand Cable Logging 2008–2018: a Period of Change

Abstract

Logging practices change and evolve over time to accomplish forest management goals considering constraints related to physical feasibility, economics, and social acceptability. Relative to its size New Zealand has a large and productive plantation forest estate and a well-established forest industry. In recent years, New Zealand has undergone significant changes to its timber harvesting methods, especially on steep terrain. The purpose of this paper is to qualify and quantify some of the changes in New Zealand cable logging practices over the last decade and discuss the impact of these changes. There has been an increase in the volume of wood harvested in New Zealand and the proportion which is harvested from steep terrain. The need to improve safety, productivity, and costs associated with steep terrain harvesting has led to the development and implementation of new mechanized equipment and systems. Technological innovation has led to increased mechanization in many aspects of cable logging. While mechanization has in many cases improved aspects of safety and productivity, there are new challenges surfacing in the industry that will require another step change in harvesting systems.