The development of technology and machines when thinning the forest in Finland and Sweden

Haper highlights key issues of earlier thinning through analysis of foreign information sources. The following issues are covered: - Key thinning features (pre-commercial and commercial) in forest management including felling shares in timber harvest, mechanized timber harvest costs; - recycling of small-sized tress and logging residue into wood chips, production volumes, cost subsidy; - key areas of earlier thinning mechanizationminimization to cut high costs due to small-sized trees and low growing stock per ha; - applied technology, machinery and working equipment including specialized harvester and accumulator-type felling heads; - various type harvester performance indicators in comparative testing and customary operation; - accumulator type felling head impacts on harvester performance; - application of super-light machinery (harvesters, forwarders, harwarders) performance indicators including conditions of the Belarus republic and Latvia; - application of modified agricultural tractors with modular fixed mounts. The analysis findings may be used in development of thinning mechanization policy.