felling

{{main|Hand felling}}

In hand felling, an axe, saw, or chainsaw is used to fell a tree, followed up by limbing and bucking in traditional applications. In the modern commercial logging industry, felling is typically followed by limbing and skidding.

{{Main|Feller buncher}}

A feller-buncher is a motorized vehicle with an attachment which rapidly cuts and gathers several trees in the process of felling them.

In cut-to-length logging a harvester performs the tasks of a feller-buncher, additionally doing the delimbing and bucking. When harvesting wood from a felled tree, the recommended methods should be followed in order to maximize wood recovery. The suggested trend is to make deeper cuts and smaller openness when performing undercuts.{{explain|date=October 2020}} {{Cite journal|last1=Borz|first1=Stelian Alexandru|last2=Ignea|first2=Gheorghe|last3=Vasilescu|first3=Maria Magdalena|date=2014-10-02|title=Small Gains in Wood Recovery Rate when Disobeying the Recommended Motor-Manual Tree Felling Procedures: Another Reason to Use the Proper Technical Prescriptions|url=http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_09_4_6938_Borz_Small_Gains_Wood_Recovery_Rate|journal=BioResources|language=en|volume=9|issue=4|pages=6938–6949|doi=10.15376/biores.9.4.6938-6949|issn=1930-2126|doi-access=free|access-date=2018-11-29|archive-date=2020-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125022556/https://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_09_4_6938_Borz_Small_Gains_Wood_Recovery_Rate|url-status=live}}

The undercut or notch cut is the guiding or aiming slot for the tree and is a V-shaped notch placed on the side of the tree in the direction of intended fall.{{Cite web|url=https://extension2.missouri.edu/g1958|title=Felling, Limbing and Bucking Trees|website=extension2.missouri.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29|archive-date=2018-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129055905/https://extension2.missouri.edu/g1958|url-status=live}}

The back cut or felling cut is made on the opposite side of the tree of the undercut and is cut through the

base of the tree severing the “hinge” holding the tree up.

The Tongue and Groove cut is a type of cut that uses the tree as its own guide for where it will fall. This is commonly used by loggers when they need precision in their drop

It may be necessary to fell trees for a number of reasons. Trees are generally felled because:

• The wood of the tree will be used as a raw material for other processes.
• The tree is too diseased or damaged to survive
• The tree is creating a safety hazard
• The tree is blocking construction activity
• The tree is causing damage to nearby structures or property.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Tree Felling: Understanding the Process and its Purpose - Newcastle Tree Pros |url=https://newcastletreepros.co.uk/what-is-tree-felling-why-is-it-done/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=newcastletreepros.co.uk |language=en-US}}

Tree felling is regulated by various safety, environmental, and industry standards to ensure worker safety, sustainable forestry practices, and legal compliance. Regulations vary by country and jurisdiction, but common frameworks exist for occupational safety, environmental protection, and responsible timber harvesting.

To minimize accidents and injuries, several international safety organizations set guidelines for felling practices, including:

• United States: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates logging and tree care operations under 29 CFR 1910.266, requiring proper chainsaw handling, personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe felling procedures.{{Cite web |date=April 9, 2025 |title=1910.266 - Logging operations |url=https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.266 |url-status=live |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=Occupational Safety and Health Standards - 1910.266}} The ANSI Z133 Safety Standard further provides best practices for arboriculture work.
• Europe: The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) sets forestry safety guidelines, requiring risk assessments, felling training, and PPE usage.{{Cite web |title=National legislation on safety and health at work {{!}} Safety and health at work EU-OSHA |url=https://osha.europa.eu/en/safety-and-health-legislation/national-legislation-safety-and-health-work |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=osha.europa.eu}}
• Canada: WorkSafeBC provides detailed forestry safety regulations, including guidelines on tree felling, mechanized logging, and chainsaw operation.{{Cite web |title=Forestry - WorkSafeBC |url=https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/industries/forestry |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.worksafebc.com}}

Governments and environmental organizations enforce laws to protect forests from overharvesting and ecological damage:

• Sustainable Harvesting Laws: Many countries require harvesting permits and compliance with forest management plans to regulate logging activities. In the U.S., the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) mandates sustainable forest harvesting on federal lands.{{Cite web |last=U.S. Forest Service |date=April 9, 2025 |title=National Forest Management Act |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning}}
• Protected Areas: Felling is restricted in national parks, conservation areas, and old-growth forests. The European Union enforces logging restrictions in protected areas through the Natura 2000 network.{{Cite web |title=The Natura 2000 protected areas network |url=https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/natura-2000 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=European Environment Agency |language=en}}
• Deforestation Controls: The United Nations REDD+ Program promotes sustainable forestry practices in tropical regions to combat illegal logging and reduce carbon emissions.{{Cite web |last=Environment |first=U. N. |date=2017-09-14 |title=REDD+ {{!}} UNEP - UN Environment Programme |url=https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/climate-action/what-we-do/redd |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.unep.org |language=en}}

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): An international certification ensuring timber is harvested sustainably, balancing economic, environmental, and social factors.{{Cite web |title=Forest Management Certification |url=https://ca.fsc.org/ca-en/get-certified/forest-management-certification |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Forest Stewardship Council |language=en}}

• Sustainable Harvesting Laws: Many countries require harvesting permits and compliance with forest management plans to regulate logging activities. In the U.S., the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) mandates sustainable forest harvesting on federal lands.{{Cite web |title=Timber Harvesting on Federal Lands |url=https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45688 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.congress.gov}}
• Deforestation Controls: The United Nations REDD+ Program promotes sustainable forestry practices in tropical regions to combat illegal logging and reduce carbon emissions.

This was an experiment conducted regarding felling trees and the continuous felling of trees in boom-corridors which might lead to an increase in harvester productivity. An efficient way to do this would be to use felling heads which would increase efficiency and fall time.{{Cite journal|last1=Bergström|first1=Dan|last2=Bergsten|first2=Urban|last3=Hörnlund|first3=Thomas|last4=Nordfjell|first4=Tomas|date=July 2012|title=Continuous felling of small diameter trees in boom-corridors with a prototype felling head|journal=Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research|volume=27|issue=5|pages=474–480|doi=10.1080/02827581.2012.663404|bibcode=2012SJFR...27..474B |s2cid=85271790|issn=0282-7581}}

File:Felled logs.jpg|Timber rounds that have been cut and stockpiled for firewood

File:Éclape de chêne.jpg|A piece of trunk, removed as a notch cut, set on a stump

File:Tree felling in urban setting, Russia 3.jpg|Felling in an urban setting in Russia. Telescopic handler and chainsaw are used.

File:DSC_7121-Edit-Edit-Edit-Facebook-2048px.jpg|Urban felling in Australia. This is done to secure areas from accidental tree falls.

File:Video of tree felling, limbing, bucking, moving.webm|Video of felling, limbing, bucking, and moving of small trees

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