Preparing to harvest

Planning your harvest

Being harvest ready means you can respond quickly when you decide you want to harvest. This involves:

• deciding how to manage the harvest, such as selecting a harvest manager 
• mapping the forest or woodlot
• harvest planning and engineering
• estimating the volume and grade of logs in the forest
• obtaining consents and permits
• resolving any access issues.

Complete a pre-harvest inventory

A pre-harvest inventory will assist you with making an informed decision on when your trees are ready to harvest. Inventory provides:

• an estimate of total wood volume
• the log types likely to be produced
• the size of the trees and logs.

Managing pre-harvest and harvest activity

Once you have decided when you will harvest, you need to decide how the harvest will be managed and your level of involvement. Options include:

• engaging a harvest manager
• sell the standing timber (stumpage sale)
• manage the harvest and log sale activities yourself.

Engage a harvest manager

This is the most common option for small forest owners who are likely to harvest only occasionally. It provides access to existing industry knowledge, as well as health and safety and environmental expertise. This method usually provides opportunity for the highest return but can result in more exposure to fluctuating log markets.

Harvest managers:

• have access to experienced harvesting and cartage contractors
• have access to domestic and export log markets
• will plan and coordinate harvest and log sale activities.

Using log trader and forestry adviser services

You can check the public register of log traders and forestry advisers to see if anyone you access services from is registered. Using a registered log trader or forestry adviser helps to make sure you get expert, impartial services.

Learn more about the system on the Ministry for Primary Industries' website.