The Dangers of Tree Felling

Tree Felling is the process of cutting down trees, a crucial element of the task of logging. Logging is an industry that includes the cutting of trees, sometimes by hand, and the use of machinery such as a feller buncher to group and cut multiple small or medium-sized trees simultaneously. Felling is done for a number of reasons, including clearing land for development, harvesting timber, and removing trees that pose a threat to people or property. Tree felling is a dangerous job and requires expert knowledge of the correct safety procedures to follow in order to avoid injuries or even death.

The most obvious danger is a tree that becomes lodged during the felling process and cannot fall completely to the ground. This can happen due to a lack of proper technique, weather conditions, or unforeseen factors. The weight of a fallen tree and the force of wind can cause a lodged tree to snap back and strike its faller or bystanders with great velocity. Even experienced loggers are often killed by these incidents, especially when the fallen tree has broken off its top and ricochets downward.

Other risks include a tree that falls into or brushes against another nearby tree, causing it to rebound and strike the faller. This is particularly common when felling uphill or in a gulley.

A fallen tree can also snag in the branches or crowns of surrounding trees. This can occur if a logger is not careful to clear the area around a tree prior to felling. Additionally, a lodged tree can snag in the tops or bottoms of other nearby trees and rip them from their roots or stumps, further damaging or injuring the logger.

Lastly, a lodged tree can also hit or pierce power lines. When a tree is felled near a power line, it should be checked with the power company to determine if it can safely be removed or if the feller will need to move elsewhere.

In addition to these physical hazards, deforestation can have other negative impacts on animal habitats and biodiversity. It can reduce available food and water sources, and increase human-wildlife conflicts. It can also fragment habitats, causing animals to be more susceptible to environmental stressors such as extreme temperatures, wind, and sunlight.

Forestry professionals use several techniques to mitigate these threats. These include directional felling and the use of scarf and back cuts. Directional felling involves determining the direction a tree will fall and making a series of cuts to weaken it before falling. In some cases, the directional cut is angled obliquely to a skid trail to help reduce damage to the nearby standing timber. Thinning is an important method used in commercial forests and preserves to reduce fuel for wildfires and benefit overall forest health. This is typically conducted years before the main logging operation takes place. In addition, pruning can be used to remove damaged or unhealthy limbs and to stimulate new growth.

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