Managing slash on steep hill country

Te Uru Rakau recently completed Harvesting Operations Handbook: Managing Slash on Steep Hill Country. This is an abbreviated version of the Slash Risk Management Handbook and is targeted more at contractors and forestry operational staff.

FICA had some input into the handbook, particularly with regard to responsibilities on page 3. We believe the key to good slash management is understanding what is required and who is responsibility before a single tree is fallen.

Some of the key lines on page 3 are:

• Everyone involved in slash management needs to be certain of their responsibilities. It is the harvest managers responsibility to make this clear.
• The harvest manager needs to clearly describe what they want done in their job description and other harvest planning documents, as well as through good onsite communication.
• The harvesting contractor should only sign off on the harvest plan and other paper work when a workable slash management plan is in place.

FICA has hard copies of the Handbook, if you would like a copy let me know and we can forward to you. The handbook is also available for download here.

The Slash Risk Management Handbook is still available as well – you can request a hard copy here.