Forestry
This
section
addresses
forestry
applications.
Hybrid
air
vehicle
could
play
a
role
in
reducing
the
environmental
impact
of
harvesting
techniques
by
providing
a
viable
alternative
to
building
logging
roads.
Harvesting
could
be
done
using
hybrids
on
a
more
selective
basis
in
cut
blocks
and
the
logs
could
be
transported
to
marshalling
areas
for
transport
by
trucks
to
the
mills.
This
would
limit
the
need
for
roads
form
the
harvesting
sites
to
these
marshalling
yards.
Roads
have
significant
negative
environmental
impacts
because
of
their
effects
on
streams
and
fisheries,
the
erosion
they
cause
and
access
they
provide
to
recreation
and hunters who disturb wildlife.
Harvesting Techniques
Sustainable
forest
environments
and
the
construction
of
logging
roads
are
mutually
incompatible.
The
evidence
is
incontestable
that
ground
disturbance
and
access
to
species
invasion
caused
by
roads
have
destroyed
huge
areas
of
the
boreal
forest.
The
dilemma
is
that
efficient
transportation
remains
a
necessity.
At
the
same
time
that
the
forest
eco-
system
needs
to
be
maintained,
the
human
population
has
to
be
economically
sustainable,
too.
A
new
generation
of
cargo
hybrid
air
vehicle
presents
an
opportunity
to
obtain
a
low
cost
method
of
aerial
logging
that
can
minimize
ground
disturbance.
Aerial
logging
is
a
more
sustainable
method
of
harvesting
timber
because
the
cutting
practices
can
emulate
the
natural
forest
fire
and
re-growth
cycle.
Mature
trees
can
be
harvested
and
the
forest
returned
to
its
natural
condition
through
controlled
burns.
The
problem
has
always
been
cost.
Helicopter
logging
is
practiced
for
high
value,
standing
stems
in
British
Columbia,
but
even
there
the
range
of
operations
from
roads
is
limited
to
a
few
miles.
The
requirement
is
for
a
vertical
take-off
and
landing
vehicle
that
can
carry
bundles
of
logs
weighing
between
20
and
40
tons
for
a
distance
of
25
to
100
kilometers.
This
vehicle
needs
to
operate
with
costs
that
are
competitive
with
the
costs
of
building
roads
and
operating
tractor
trailers.
The
hybrid
air
vehicle
has
the
potential
to
meet
these
requirements
and
revolutionize
the
lumbering
practices
in
the boreal forest.
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