Policy briefs

Chainsaws, milling and regulation — last modified 2006-04-12 10:16

Chainsaws benefit forestry practice and forest-dependent people but are also implicated in illegal tree harvesting and forest clearance, and who benefits and who loses from legal and illegal chainsaw use continues to be debated. There are increasing calls to regulate the use of chainsaws, and the success or failure of attempts in some countries are helping to better inform policies and laws on chainsaw use to improve livelihoods without harming the environment. This policy brief is aimed at those involved in making, implementing and enforcing policy in the forestry and wood processing sectors, and also companies involved in manufacturing and selling chainsaws and chainsaw mills. Correct citation: Pasiecznik NM, Fehr C, Samuel JH. 2006. Chainsaws, milling and regulation. Policy brief (datasheet). HDRA, Coventry, UK. 2pp. http://chainsaw.gwork.org/.

Chainsaw milling – improving timber production and rural livelihoods on farms and in drylands — last modified 2006-04-12 10:19

Milling of timber with chainsaws ‘freehand’ is now common in tropical forests and increasingly so outside them, even though there are high risks of injury and fatigue associated, and questions concerning timber quality and legality. Chainsaw attachments that produce quality timber safely and efficiently are increasingly available, appearing especially suitable outside forests where trees are often few, scattered, inaccessible, of poor form or small size, and capital to invest in milling equipment is limited. This policy brief is aimed at those involved in making and implementing policy in the forestry and wood processing sectors, and companies involved in manufacturing and selling chainsaws, accessories and milling equipment, to promote training, supply appropriate equipment and develop markets. Correct citation: Pasiecznik NM, Samuel JH, Fehr C. 2006. Chainsaw milling – improving timber production and rural livelihoods on farms and in drylands. Policy brief (datasheet). HDRA, Coventry, UK. 2pp. http://chainsaw.gwork.org/.

The future of powersaw splitting (chainsaw milling) in Kenya — last modified 2006-04-12 10:20

Powersaws are commonly used in Kenya to split logs into timber but their use is rarely considered in national planning. Here it is suggested that chainsaws have an important part to play in supplying timber, and increasingly so through improvements in operator skill and the technologies employed, especially that of powersaw milling attachments. This is a policy brief aimed at organisations involved in timber production and processing in Kenya and East Africa at all levels including departments, institutes and bodies within government, NGOs, CBOs, international organisations and businesses involved in the manufacture, importation and distribution of associated equipment and machinery. Correct citation: Pasiecznik NM, Samuel JH. 2006. The future of powersaw splitting (chainsaw milling) in Kenya. Policy brief (datasheet). HDRA, Coventry, UK. 2pp. http://chainsaw.gwork.org/.

The potential of chainsaw milling for improving rural livelihoods in Uganda and DR Congo — last modified 2006-04-12 10:22

This policy brief is aimed at forest policy shapers in East Africa. It results from studies carried out in Uganda and eastern DR Congo, part of a wider project including Kenya and a global review presented in separate briefing papers. Chainsaws are widely used in the region ‘freehand’ to process logs into timber, and this undeniably contributes to rural livelihoods though often in an illegal context. This raises questions with regards to the appropriateness of prevailing laws and their enforcement. Impacts are considered alongside the use of pitsaws and chainsaw milling attachments. Correct citation: Fehr C, Pasiecznik NM. 2006. The potential of chainsaw milling for improving rural livelihoods in Uganda and DR Congo. Policy brief (datasheet). HDRA, Coventry, UK. 2pp. http://chainsaw.gwork.org/.