THE TECH REVOLUTION
The technological revolution has
changed everyone’s lives – not least
forest owners and consultants.
Drones help us see just how much
forest our forest owners have
and where the forest boundaries
are. They also save so much time,
allowing us to quickly identify areas
of storm damage and accurately
map the forest. We can identify small
marshes and water holes, trees that we
want to grow and protect, where we need to
put the timber once it’s harvested and whether the
roads are suitable for heavy machinery and trucks.
This footage can also be incorporated into a smart
device and overlaid onto a forest plan showing (among
other things) how much wood is below, the percentage of
different species of trees, how old the wood is and what
the suggested plans are for the future.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
The climate is a constant, ever-evolving challenge. Forest
fires and/or the risk of forest fires can be problematic,
as are droughts, which is why it’s so important to look
at water table levels and what’s going on beneath the
surface to ensure you plant the right species in the right
place.
With warmer weather comes
the proliferation of bark beetle, a
common and potentially devastating
pest that tunnels under bark,
cutting off the supply of food and
water the tree needs to survive.
They can kill a tree in as little as
two to four weeks.
At Södra, we ensure the number
of trees growing is appropriate for
the acreage, carrying out responsible
thinning. We never use any form of
chemical deterrent but instead lay traps and
attract bark beetle with endorphins typically
released by a tree in distress. This helps us to not only
exterminate the bark beetle but learn more about their
activity so that we may better plan ahead.FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Timber’s sustainability credentials, durability
and flexibility (coupled with the need to address
environmental concerns) means its demand will continue
to increase. This is a good thing. After all, timber
sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helps
reduce the overall carbon footprint of a building project.
But this counts for little unless the timber being used has
come from sustainable, responsibly managed forests, so
be sure of the quality and provenance of the timber you
buy and sell. Our future depends on it.Södra employee Johan
Malmqvist prepares
a drone for forest
mapping.