Forestry has a bad rap for devastating ecosystems now lined with dusty stumps where lush foliage and wildlife used to exist. The imagery is saddening and requires an examination of conscience and behavior. Through a different lens, however, the forestry industry can be seen as an ally against future deforestation. Companies that want to make a profit continuously need healthy, regenerative forests just as farmers need nutrient-rich land for sowing crops.
Image: Adobe Stock
In The State of the World’s Forests 2024 report, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) declared that “deforestation is slowing, forests are under pressure from climate-related stressors, and forest product demand is rising.” Wildfires and pests seem to be destroying millions of hectares without our help, and “[g]lobal wood production is at record levels, at about 4 billion m3 per year,” with no signs of slowing down through 2050.
As part of its guidance to address the current and near-future state, the FAO calls for technological innovations, such as advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine vision, that increase forestry efficiency, maximize yield, and reduce waste. Manufacturers and logging companies are already answering this call with improved hydraulics, more efficient mobile machines, automation, and continued research on hybrid designs. In Fluid Power World’s October issue, we discuss a few of these improvements in the market and how the cut-to-length harvesting method is growing in popularity for more sustainable forestry.
Now, sustainability doesn’t mean we don’t use the Earth’s resources. It means we use them responsibly in a way that’s respectful of ecosystems and ensures healthy replenishment. Trees are a renewable resource, after all, and critical to the economy. But they’re also critical for regulating climate change, improving air and water quality, and supporting biodiversity. So, we must use methods and equipment that allow us to leverage this renewable resource responsibly to preserve its natural functions and essential role in our environment.
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