Objective
Sustainably harvesting trees through single-tree selection system. The harvested trees are then dried, cleaned, and processed for various designs throughout the course of MAEBB at Valldaura Labs.
Single-Tree Selection System:
The single-tree selection system is a sustainable forestry management practice where individual trees are selectively harvested from a forest, rather than removing all trees in a specific area (clear-cutting) or cutting a group of trees (group selection). This method promotes continuous forest cover, ecological stability, and natural regeneration.
Key Characteristics of Single- Tree Selection
Individual Tree Harvesting : Foresters identify and remove specific trees based on criteria like age, size, health, and species. Trees that are mature, diseased, or of low value are typically harvested, leaving younger, healthy trees to continue growing.
Continuous Forest Cover: The system ensures that the forest remains intact with a mix of trees of different ages and species, maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
Natural Regeneration: The gaps created by the removal of individual trees allow sunlight to reach the forest floor, promoting the growth of seedlings and young trees.
Periodic Harvesting: The system involves repeated harvesting cycles over time, typically every 5-20 years, depending on the forest type and growth rates.
Advantages of Single- Tree Selection
- Ecological Sustainability: Protects soil from erosion, maintains wildlife habitat, and preserves water quality.
- Diverse Age Structure: Encourages a mixed-age forest, which is more resilient to pests, diseases, and climate change.
- Continuous Economic Yield: Provides a steady supply of timber without disrupting the forest ecosystem.
- Aesthetic and Recreational Value: Maintains the visual appeal of the forest and its suitability for recreational activities.
About Pinus Halepensis (Aleppo Pine)
Pinus halepensis, commonly known as the Aleppo pine, is a medium-sized coniferous tree native to the Mediterranean region. It is well-adapted to dry, hot climates and is characterized by its slender trunk, irregular crown, and needle-like leaves that grow in pairs. The tree typically reaches heights of 15–25 meters, with a reddish-brown bark that becomes deeply fissured with age. It is drought-resistant and thrives in rocky, nutrient-poor soils, often dominating Mediterranean forests and scrublands.
The wood of the Aleppo pine is lightweight, resinous, and moderately durable. Its primary uses include construction of lightweight structures, beams, planks, furniture, packaging, pulp, paper, fuel, and resin extraction.
Context
The tree harvesting was done within Valldaura estates which is a part of the Collserola Natural Park, Barcelona.
source: author
Tree Selection
We were divided into groups and each group were to select 6 to 8 trees. The trees were selected using the 4 method rule called L.O.V.E.
Documentation
While selecting the trees, we recorded the latitudes and longitudes of the tree location, the height, the circumference and observations of the tree and it’s surroundings. The selected trees were also documented through two pictures, one of the entire tree and one of the canopy (example below).
a) Tree Profile, b) Canopy
pictures taken by the students
Selected Trees
Final trees that were cut
Logging Data
Tree Cutting
The trees were cut by Xavi Pujolar and his team who are professional lumberjacks. The tree cutting process took 2 days, 5 professional lumberjacks, 3 faculty and 16 students.
pictures taken by students
From the previous year
We are currently using the dried tree trunks cut by students of MAEBB 2023-24.
The trunks that we cut this year will be used next year.
pictures taken by students
