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Timber cruising is the
mechanism through which an estimate of volume and value of a stand of
trees is generated.
Once an area (cutblock)
has been designed and engineered by a forester or forest technician, the
map is sent to the timber cruiser who designs a sampling plan for the
area. Every block that is to be harvested is cruised prior to the
commencement of logging operations. The sampling plan is placed on
the map (usually a 100 by 100 metre grid) illustrating where samples
(plots) will be established in the field.
In the field, the
timber cruiser will take measurements for the trees in their plots,
including data on:
Information on the
tree's grade and percent soundness (through call grading and net
factoring) may be recorded.
Other information that
is gathered for the cutblock includes:
Once the information is
gathered, it is put through a cruise compilation which generates the
volume for the area. This is an integral part of information used to calculate
stumpage which is revenue paid to the Crown as a form of rent for
using the land.
Work carried out by
timber cruisers may be audited by Ministry of Forests and Range staff to
ensure compliance and adherence to the Ministry of Forests and Range
Cruising Manual.
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