Sucessive Improvement in the Wood Harvesting Technology in India

Forests are the most important natural resources available at the disposal of Man. The harvesting of the Forest products is an age old phenomenon and as back as 2000 B.C., The Indian timber was exported to the western and arabic countries. The logging tools prevalent in India were primitive and less productive, resulting in colossal loss of most valuable timber. In India, even after introduction of scientific management of Forests, principles of Silvicultural science took precedence over all other forestry activities and improved logging was not yet on the priority. In 1852, for the first time, attempts were made to replace the axe with the saw for felling and conversion. The demand of timber increased steeply after the second World War and need was felt to extract the timber from the inaccessible hilly areas. With the introduction of Truck transportation and roads and Bridge construction the timber harvesting operation, were revolutionized in the plains. After Independence, the demand further increased on account of population pressure and development and since then the demand of timber is always increasing. With this demand, need was felt to improve the logging practices and F.A.O. Expert Mr. A. Huber visited India during 1951-53. Another F.A.O. Expert Mr. A. Koroleff also visited India in 1951, on the recommendations of these experts, Logging Branch was established in 1951 in FRI for conducting research and imparting training in basic logging to the Foresters and forestry workers. After achieving initial Breakthrough, the need was felt to separate training from the research, which led to the establishment of Logging Training centre Project in 1965, with H.Q. at Dehra Dun and Four Regional Centre. The centre has since acquired the states of Logging Development Institute. The major achievements of the research carried out by the Logging Branch are in the field of work and cost studies, Survey and improvements of logging tools, Design and fabrication of logging tools suitable to Indian condition such as FRI yarder (long distance skyline crane), various, types, of winches and improvements in the saws and wotk physiological studies. In future emphasis should be laid on research on the Ergonomic aspects, to devise suitable tools and equipments for logging operations which are economically viable, can work in our conditons and which are acceptable to the workers. Transportation studies should also be carried out. There should be close link between the Silvicuitural prescriptions and Logging operation.