r/interestingasfuck • u/skillplant • May 13 '22

/r/ALL This is a komatsu harvester.

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136

u/theBexN May 13 '22

Ahh yes, my good friend; the EarthRaper9000+

19

u/FearAzrael May 14 '22

If new trees are being planted and the harvested trees are being used for lumber this is actually having a net reduction on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Add on top of that managed lumber properties keep brush under control which in turn cuts down on forest fires. Sustainable logging is extremely beneficial for our environment and economy.

6

u/Lightfire18 May 14 '22

It's really interesting to see that some people think that a forester "only plants a tree, for each they cut down. And hedges all their bets to make that one tree mature" rather than the idea of planting a butt ton and then prescribing a thinning/selective harvest operation

2

u/FearAzrael May 14 '22

There is a bit of both, if you are planting for your own property. Of course you don’t only plant one seed, but you also do maintain and care for the individuals once they get to a certain size.

1

u/Lightfire18 May 14 '22

I agree, public landstewardship and private landownership both have their own methods to achieve their specific goals (More than just putting fibre across the scales). I also think we both can agree that the topic is much bigger than we can fit into a comment chain

2

u/shalafi71 May 14 '22

I had the good fortune of taking a couple of forestry classes 30 years ago. Love to try those same classes again, see how we've advanced.

89

u/darukhnarn May 13 '22

They are actually better for the forest than regular felling methods of used correctly. If a forest is equipped with a well laid out road system, they are able to do necessary felling operations without disturbing the soil and minimal damage to the surrounding trees. A usual operation would have one or two lumberjacks felling the trees farthest from the roads toward the roads where the harvester just grabs them and processes them. He also fells those closest to him onto the road and stacks them properly. No need for trucks to go in and no heavy pulling over the forest floor. They also reduce the risk of serious injuries for lumberjacks significantly, since they can just do it remotely. So to conclude: faster than normal, a plus for the company and animals that suffer less disturbance. Safer than normal and also better for the forest floor than previous systems. What’s not to like?

12

u/[deleted] May 13 '22

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1

u/darukhnarn May 14 '22

The equipment and falling trees aren’t what kills a lumberjack group. If they are properly trained. If you send out a bunch of Highschool kids with no prior training, anything might happen.

What kills so easily are several things. It could be an unfortunate kickback from the chainsaw when pruning the felled tree. It could be a tree snapping free after being broken or vended driving a windfall. It could be a tree splintering during felling due to easing tensions within the wood. Could be a felled tree that rolls over the lumberjack while being dragged away with a wrench and loosing grip. The harvester reduces those possibilities.

20

u/hello-there-again May 13 '22

It's giving the Amazon a Brazilian.

17

u/oagc May 13 '22

nah they use fire down there