Abstract:
Plantation forests are established, and expanding,
to satisfy increasing global demand for timber products.
Shifting societal values, such as safety, productivity,
environmental, quality and social are influencing the
plantation forestry sector. This is primarily driven through
an ever increasing world population, which in turn influences
the way nations view the value systems by which
they live. More people require more resources—also forest
products. Also, the availability of information is influencing
the pace of technological development. These changes
could result in a difference in the management of plantations
that could affect the forest engineering systems of the
future. This review aimed to summarize the current status
of plantation forests; summarize future developments and possible scenarios in forest plantation management for the
various products; and assess whether these developments in
a plantation environment could affect the harvesting systems
used. Factors influencing the form of plantations
include the type and nature of the plantation owner; the
change in demand for different and new forest products;
climate change factors, including the use of biomass for
energy, carbon sequestration and trading; ecosystem services
and other products and services; and sustainability
certification of forest management. The impact and influence
of these factors were summarised into a series of key
drivers that will influence the technology used in harvesting
machines, as well as the choice of harvesting machines,
systems and methods. These drivers were the effect of
variations in tree size, the expansion of plantation areas
onto more difficult terrain, diversity in plantation design,
increased attention towards site impacts and the increased
use of biomass for energy. Specific information is provided
regarding how the harvesting systems could be affected.