Portable Sawmilling: The Best Choice for our Future
Portable sawmilling has become a widely accepted sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for timber production, naturally aligning with the increasing global focus on environmental conservation. It works exceptionally well on a smaller scale, meeting demands of small businesses and individuals. Portable sawmilling offers many benefits that contribute to a better balance between the use of natural resources and the change in humanities values. We seem to have woken up to the fact that resources are not infinite and behaviors' and attitudes need to change.
I have a very strong passion for working with and using timber. I decided to write this article to develop my own knowledge on the subject and hopefully pass that some of that onto you, the reader. If you would like to know more about me, here is a link to some more information. I am hoping that this will achieve two things. First, I am aiming to develop my knowledge and understanding of the industry I have stepped into and started my journey as a small business owner. This will help me be able to provide a better service to my customers and develop my expertise. Secondly, our impact as individuals and as a larger collective on the environment is becoming increasingly important. By passing this knowledge on I aim to hopefully improve others decision making ability.
Efficient Resource Use
Picture: cutting boards and sleepers from the same log.
One of the great benefits of portable sawmilling is the ability to maximize the utilization of timber. Only a small amount of waste is produced as it is very easy and efficient to cut multiple sizes of timber from a single log. Compared to clear cut forestry methods it also allows for easy selective harvesting. This gives the undergrowth the opportunity to then grow without destroying large habitats. It also allows the harvesting of naturally fallen or damaged trees, urban trees, or targeting specific patches. A great example of this is the the salvage sawmilling and furniture making being done by The Wood Project, Victoria Australia. The work they have been doing was covered in a brilliant article by WoodMizer. This method minimizes forest destruction and biodiversity loss, optimising timber extraction, especially on a small scale.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Picture: WoodMizer LT40 Super Hydraulic portable sawmill setup.
Portable sawmilling significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to other methods of timber production. Conventional methods often require the transportation of logs over long distances to large sawmills. According to the Ministry for Primary Industries, in the year ending June 2022 total New Zealand forest exports were $6.64 billion. Only $973 million of that was sawn timber and sleeper exports, the remaining being unprocessed logs. This would generate massive amounts of carbon emissions. While unable to compete with mass production, portable milling brings the process directly to the source. This greatly reduces the need for heavy machinery and long haul transportation, resulting in a lower carbon emission, making it more environmentally friendly.
Localized and Sustainable Economy
Portable sawmilling is a great way to support small local businesses. In the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic there has been a shift in mindset, and in New Zealand we saw a big shift towards supporting local businesses. In return this has economic benefits for the community through regional development, job creation and an increased resilient economy.
Preservation of Forest Ecosystems
Picture: moving through the woodlands planted on the family farm and conducting selective harvesting.
As we have already discussed, portable sawmilling often operates on a smaller scale in comparison to commerical opperations. This smaller scale operations helps play a vital role in preserving forest ecosystems through sustainable forest practices. Here in New Zealand we adhere to the Montreal Process. It is an agreed upon standard by a number of countries as to how to best ensure the achievement of sustainable forestry. It outlines:
Conservation of biological diversity.
Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems.
Maintenance of forest ecosystems and vitality.
Consercation and maintenance of soil and water resources.
Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles.
Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple social-economic benefits to meet the needs of society.
Legal, institutional and economic frameworks for forest conservation and sustainable management.
Additionally we have already touched on selective harvesting and responsible resource management. This will help to minimize the disruption to the ecological process and reduces the need for new logging operations, protecting untouched forest areas.
Diverse Applications and Waste Reduction
Picture: sawdust generated by portable sawmilling operations.
My belief is that this last part is the most beneficial and validating use of portable sawmills. A portable sawmill offers great versatility in creating custom lumber and lumber products to suit the needs of the user. From a single log a portable sawmill is capable of producing lumber for furniture, flooring, structural components, landscaping, the list goes on. This is because cutting techniques can be used to produce a variety of precise lumber from a single log without impacting the overall work process and ensure maximum timber yield. It also produces far less waste compared to large-scale sawmills because of this ability.
Conclusion
Portable sawmilling presents a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to the lumber demand. By maximizing the resources available, reducing carbon emissions, supporting local economies, preserving our current forest ecosystems, portable sawmilling aligns well with the goals of environmental conservation and sustainable forestry practices. Embracing and supporting portable sawmilling supports a greener future and directly contributes to a more sustainable business practice.
To support a portable sawmill business and have a positive impact on the environment, contact us today. Together, lets build a sustainable and environmentally friendly future!
