The objective of this compendium is to contribute to the improvement of knowledge and information about small-scale harvesting technology in British Columbia. The project also aims to provide unbiased information for forestry professionals and to strengthen entrepreneur's ability to support innovative energy systems based on forest biomass by promoting technical, logistical and organisational improvements of small-scale biomass utilization.

The compendium aim is to improve the knowledge and understanding of:

Please note that the presented list only provides a general overview and is not exclusive. This document acts rather as a living database that provides a snapshot in time and will need to be updated to maintain relevancy.

Main categories of equipment

Hobby equipment

  • Small excavator base
  • Manual equipment (chainsaw handles)
  • Used occasionally throughout the year
  • No need for commercial viability, serves a different purpose
  • Fuel treatments, firewood production, chip supply, thinning for specialty products (poles)
  • Woodlot

Semi-professional

  • Farm tractor based solutions (forwarder trailer, small accumulating felling heads)
  • Mostly mechanized
  • Used for several months throughout the year
  • Some commercial payback needed (achieved through multi-purpose approach e.g. snowplow, forestry, agriculture)
  • Fuel treatments, firewood production, chip supply, thinning for specialty products (poles)
  • Woodlot, community forests, 1st Nations forests

Small contracting operations

  • Small scale, purpose built machines for forestry application (small skidders, harvesters, forwarders)
  • Mechanized
  • Used for at least 6-12 months out of the year (depending on size of equipment)
  • Needs to be commercially viable (achieved through lower investment costs)
  • Fuel treatments, firewood production, chip supply, commercial thinning operations
  • Community forests, 1st Nations forests

Large contracting operations

  • Full scale purpose built machines for forestry applications (harvesters, forwarders, etc.)
  • Used throughout the year
  • Fully commercialized solution
  • All kinds of forestry operations
  • Community forests, 1st Nations forests, traditional forest industry applications