A Short Review of Fuel Consumption Rates of Whole Tree and Cut-To-Length Timber Harvesting Methods

Abstract

The fuel consumption of equipment during forest harvesting operations is still not well known and existing measurement technologies are largely untested. Considering forest industry’s need, some countries have developed and compared tools to quantify, control and analyses fuel consumption to create suitable analysis methods. Comprehensive trials have been carried out by researchers in different countries to quantify the fuel consumption rates for different harvesting methods. This article provides a short review of fuel consumption rates of whole tree and cut-to-length harvesting methods. The article explains the factors influencing the fuel consumption and provides suggestions to control and reduce fuel consumption of harvesting machines.;