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7.4 Harvesting with Helicopters
Authors: Rien Visser, Jon DronfieldPublication: NZIF Forestry Handbook, Volume Section 7 – Harvesting, pp 4, Dec 2023
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Due to its high operating cost, helicopter logging is a niche harvesting system suited to situations where conventional ground-based or cable harvesting systems are not feasible. Common niches include where the conventional systems are not able to keep the environmental impact to an acceptable low level, where access is restricted or cost prohibitive, or in high-value indigenous harvest operations. There have been a number of successful helicopter logging in New Zealand. Examples include: -Clear-felling Radiata on steep terrain in the Central North Island with compelling factors being the presence of cultural sites (where ground disturbance was unacceptable) and difficult terrain (where cable logging was not physically possible). -Recovery of indigenous timbers from the West Coast after a major storm event -Thinning the Fir stand the between Blue and Green Lakes near Rotorua. -Extraction of regulated sustainable yields from private indigenous forests using small group and single tree selection systems.