Here’s a detailed guide on minimizing resin loss during agarwood harvest, with a focus on avoiding over-chainsawing:
1. The Problem: Over-Chainsawing
- Over-chainsawing occurs when too much wood is removed around resin-rich zones.
- Leads to:
- Loss of high-value resin.
- Increased wood waste.
- Damage to remaining resin zones for future harvest.
- Reduced commercial quality and yield.
2. Principles to Minimize Loss
- Plan Cuts Carefully
- Map resin zones before cutting (visual, scent, and density assessment).
- Mark the exact boundaries of resin-rich wood.
- Avoid “blind” or hasty chainsaw cuts.
- Use Incremental Cutting
- Make small, controlled cuts to expose resin zones gradually.
- Avoid felling large sections without inspecting the interior first.
- Preserve Resin-Rich Sections
- Cut around resin pockets instead of removing surrounding non-resinous wood unnecessarily.
- For trunk sections, selectively extract logs with the highest resin content.
- Tool Control
- Use sharp chainsaws; dull blades tear wood and damage resin.
- Maintain steady cutting speed; avoid plunging the chainsaw.
- Use hand saws or chisels for delicate trimming near resin zones.
- Angle of Cut
- Follow grain direction to prevent splintering and resin loss.
- Avoid cutting directly across resin pockets at sharp angles.
3. Harvest Techniques to Reduce Loss
| Technique | How it Helps |
|---|---|
| Mapping before cutting | Guides precise cuts, protects resin zones |
| Incremental sectioning | Reduces chance of cutting valuable resin |
| Selective branch removal | Preserves tree and allows continued resin production |
| Hand finishing near resin | Minimizes resin damage from chainsaw blades |
| Avoid dragging on soil | Prevents contamination and abrasion of resin |
4. Workflow Example
- Inspect and map resin zones visually, by scent, and by density.
- Mark cut lines on trunk/branch for resin extraction.
- Make primary chainsaw cuts to remove large, non-resinous sections.
- Switch to hand saw or chisel to carefully extract resin-rich wood.
- Record harvested section in inventory and traceability system.
5. Best Practices
- Train crews in resin identification and precision cutting.
- Avoid rushing; haste increases over-cutting and resin damage.
- Maintain sharp, clean tools and proper chainsaw tension.
- Plan for staged harvesting, removing high-value sections first.
- Always review harvested section to ensure no resin-rich wood is left behind unnecessarily.
I can also create a diagram showing “safe cutting zones vs. over-chainsawing risk areas” on an agarwood trunk, highlighting how to preserve resin-rich wood—ideal for field training.
Do you want me to make that diagram?