Millions of acres of unmanaged private non-industrial forestland across the rural south present an extraordinary opportunity to create new businesses and jobs. Most present forestry contractors who provide services such as timber harvesting and site preparation operate with equipment too large and inefficient for landowners. To assist landowners in beginning intensive management, additional new small- scale forestry contractors must be developed with new skills, appropriate small equipment and applicable systems. Combinations of small equipment and labor for timber management will be evaluated. Research results will deter- mine how small-scale forestry contractors must equip and operate their businesses to be profitable and yet provide the customer services increasingly in demand by private forest owners.
