Chainsaw milling – improving timber production and rural livelihoods on farms and in drylands

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/.