Factors affecting the costs and returns of thinning

Question 1

Name the factors

Answer 1

• Topography
• Access
• Scale
• Point of sale
• Timber price
• Quality of timber
• Size of timber
• Grants
• Timber contracts
• Type of thinning
• Species

Question 2

Topography

Answer 2

-could potentially impact the cost of harvesting if on steep or sloping topography

Question 3

Access

Answer 3

• Timber removal

- Stacking areas

Question 4

Scale

Answer 4

• How much is to be removed

- How big is the site

Question 5

Point of sale

Answer 5

• 3 options:
• Negotiations
• Tender
• Auction
• Could sell standing (hire someone to cut trees) or sell roadside (more expensive as you have to do it yourself)

Question 6

Timber price

Answer 6

Hardwoods sell for more than softwoods but take longer to grow

Question 7

Quality of timber

Answer 7

Any kinks? Thin or thick? Rotting?

Question 8

Size of timber

Answer 8

Softwoods = 
-18cm+ diameter (sawlog) 
-14cm+ diameter (fencing)
-7cm+ diameter (chip)
Hardwoods =
-40cm+ diameter (sawlog)
-25cm+ diameter (fencing)
-7cm+ diameter (firelog)

Question 9

Species

Answer 9

Conifers:

• Sawlog = £75-120/m3
• Fencing/chip = £45-60 /m3

Question 10

Grants

Answer 10

• Woodland planning grant

- Capitol grants

Question 11

Timber contracts

Answer 11

• Price and basis of contact or sale

- Conditions of sale (start - completion date, payments)

Question 12

Type of thinning

Answer 12

• Selective thinning - low, crown or intermediate thinning

- Systematic thinning - line thinning, diagonal thinning or both