S. France forestry/timber help

[G00MER]

Hi just wondering if anyone could offer some knowledge on forestry/timber in France.

Long story short, my uncle lives in the south and has about 17 hectares of oak woodland that he wants clearing/thinning.

I've just been told he sold a hectare to a guy (for 2000euros!) who came in and by all accounts wrecked the place, taking all the best trees and leaving the brash everywhere. Now the guy keeps pestering him and has turned up knocking on the door asking if he can go and take more.

I'm not sure of the quality as i haven't seen it yet personally but i'm told they're all pretty clean straight trees upto 2.5ft dbh and about 50ft tall, so potentially some decent timber and some firewood.

So if someone could give me a rough ballpark figure as to what standing or felled timber/firewood is worth down there it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[dent]

if its southern france i believe there are quite strict rules governing the price of wood and how much can be harvested if its going for firewood i believe its set by the local mayor or council

[Le Sanglier]

if its southern france i believe there are quite strict rules governing the price of wood and how much can be harvested if its going for firewood i believe its set by the local mayor or council

 

news to me! Which dept is the wood?

[Ty Korrigan]

Hello,

There are indeed strict regulations governing forestry work.

Permissions are required to 'work' any parcel of forest over 2 hectares.

Contact the local department of forestry for further info.

Regards

Ty

[driftmonkey]

hi i live in department 43.the price of wood is not great ive just sold about 140 pine trees

[normandylumberjack]

Im not in your area,(Manche 50) but here Oak commands good money if it is of good quality.

A local timber merchant i work for has told me that competition for comercial quantities of clean oak is fierce and with the recent news of the forestry dept. selling off huge quantities of timber to china, you should be getting top dollar.

Ask a local merchant or sawmill, or look on bon coin and see if anyone local is selling.

[driftmonkey]

oak wood is called chen in france.and its worth about 65 euros a stere.in the department i live which is 43.hope this helps.

[normandylumberjack]

FIREWOOD! stere is the unit to measure fire wood, If you cut plantation grown, 2'+ dbh chene for firewood then shame on you!

 

Sell on the tops and 2nd lengths, for bois du chaufage, but realise the 200+ years of growth and management of these trees and get top money for them.

 

If you are going to harvest get a cutter that is experienced with hardwood felling to maximise timber quality, and reduce damage.

[Ty Korrigan]

Or get a tree surgeon to chog them all down in 2ft lumps so you can corner the market in stools hhhhh!: Lol:

Ty

Edited July 11, 2012 by Ty Korrigan
Usual bad grammar and spelling...