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The Forest Systems and Work Study section has as its
mandate the promotion of efficient forest resource utilization through research
and development and technology transfer.
Much emphasis is placed on:
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improving the efficiency of harvesting operations, |
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monitoring and improving timber utilization, and |
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introducing new harvesting techniques and technologies. |
In keeping with the Department's focus on ecosystem
management, work has also been conducted in monitoring harvesting operations to
provide information to forest managers to assist in their decision making
process.
Other initiatives being pursued are:
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Sensitive site logging |
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Timber utilization surveys |
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Careful logging techniques |
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Cutover cull surveys |
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Ground disturbance surveys |
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Machine productivity surveys (managed/unmanaged stands) |
 All work follows a detailed method of planning,
budgeting, implementation, monitoring and measurement. Results obtained are
summarized and presented in the form of technical and information reports which
are distributed throughout the Province's forestry sector as well as research
and educational institutions abroad.
This section is also responsible for refining many of
the gross merchantable volume deductions made to the Province's Timber Supply
Analysis. Various surveys are conducted throughout Newfoundland and Labrador in
order to determine volume losses due to:
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fire, |
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insects and diseases, |
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stand remnants, |
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poor timber utilization, and |
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the cull inherent in standing timber. |
 Work is also done on maintaining and upgrading a video, slide and
equipment database of current harvesting equipment and techniques. This
information is made available to interested contractors, students, research
organizations, Newfoundland Forest Service (NFS) staff, pulp and paper companies
and the general public. Forest engineering expertise is made available upon
request, pending time and staff restraints.
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