Perhutani Cepu Uses Felling Techniques to Protect Timber
Perhutani Cepu says careful felling can protect timber quality and worker safety. Field supervisors monitor the process from preparation to the tree’s fall.
Careful tree felling can affect both the value of Indonesian timber and the safety of forest workers. Perhutani’s Cepu Forest Management Unit says its crews use proper felling techniques to protect logs and reduce risks during operations.
The activity took place in the Cepu unit’s area on Thursday, October 8. Perhutani said the way a tree is brought down can affect the timber’s physical condition and economic value, making workers’ skills and on-site supervision important parts of the process.
Supervision begins before the tree falls
A felling foreman oversees the work from preparation until the tree is down. Before cutting begins, workers assess the tree, choose a direction for it to fall and examine conditions around the site.
Risks are tangible. Damage to a trunk as the tree falls can affect the quality of the resulting timber. Perhutani’s Cepu unit therefore emphasizes careful work that follows procedures, rather than focusing only on completing the felling.
The company considers timber quality from the moment a tree is cut, not only after the wood leaves the forest. Preserving the trunk’s condition can allow it to be used more effectively, while a poor choice of fall direction can reduce the value of the harvested timber. For the forestry sector, that makes field decisions relevant to both worker safety and the condition of the eventual product.
Sudiyoko, a felling foreman speaking on behalf of the Cepu unit’s administrator, said the tree’s direction of fall is an important factor in felling. The available source cuts off after that statement and does not provide his full explanation of the technical considerations or steps involved.
Perhutani’s information describes the foreman’s role in monitoring operations from the outset through the tree’s fall. The checks cover both the tree and its surroundings. Decisions on site therefore involve not only where a tree will land, but also how to protect workers and prevent damage to the trunk.
The Cepu unit says it seeks to maintain timber quality by using appropriate and safe felling techniques. Its account places the emphasis on the work before the tree comes down, when crews assess the tree and surrounding conditions.
Source: Perhutani
