Harvesting is important to your forest's final value. When done right, it can unlock the value built up over years, improve future crops, and get the site ready for the next steps in management or replanting.
For over 40 years, Green Belt has helped forest owners across Ireland plan and manage harvesting to protect their forests and support strong returns. Our team can advise on timing, licences, access, timber measurement, marketing, and sales, making sure as much of the crop as possible is used to get the best value for you.
From the first thinning to the final clearfell, Green Belt brings the forestry knowledge, market insight, and hands-on management needed to handle harvesting the right way.
Timber Harvesting
Harvesting timber is a big decision for any forest owner. The timing, intensity, and management of the work all affect your final return.
General Felling Licence
A felling licence is required before timber can be harvested, whether the work involves thinning or clearfell.
Timber Marketing
Choosing the right timber sale can greatly increase what you earn from your forest.
Forest Roads
Having good access can boost your forest’s value, safety, and long-term management.
Timber Measurement
Accurate timber measurement helps forest owners make better decisions.
Woodchipping
Woodchipping allows timber to be used for biomass, pulp, and renewable energy markets.
Timber Harvesting
Harvesting timber is a big decision for any forest owner. The timing, intensity, and management of the work all affect your final return.
Green Belt works with you to assess your forest and choose the best way to harvest. This could mean first thinning, later thinning, or a final clearfell, depending on the age, condition, species, and your long-term goals. Our foresters give practical advice before any work starts, so you understand your options and what each one means for your forest’s future.
A successful harvest also depends on access, licences, road planning, timber measurement, contractor management, and market timing. Green Belt guides you through the whole process, from felling licence applications and forest road planning to organising the harvest once you have approval.
Since Green Belt works with sawmills and harvesting contractors all over Ireland, we can help market your timber and use as much of your crop as possible. Our job is to work for you, the forest owner, and help you get the best results for your timber, your land, and the next stage of your forest.
General Felling Licence
A felling licence is required before timber can be harvested, whether the work involves thinning or clearfell.
Green Belt can handle the felling licence application for you. Our foresters will assess your plantation, recommend the best harvesting approach, and manage the application process until it is approved by the Forest Service.
After the licence is approved, Green Belt can take care of the next steps. We mark trees if needed, organise the harvesting, market the timber, manage the sale, and make sure the process is clear through to prompt payment.
From the first thinning to the final clearfell, Green Belt helps you stay compliant, protect your forest’s value, and make informed choices about when and how to harvest.
Timber Marketing & Sales
Choosing the right timber sale can greatly increase what you earn from your forest.
Green Belt helps forest owners market and sell timber from thinning and clearfell. We assess your crop, figure out the likely product mix, and bring your timber to market to get you the best price and terms.
The first thinning usually aims to improve the future value of your crop, with much of the wood going to smaller pulp markets. As your forest grows, later thinning and clearfell can produce higher-value timber. Green Belt makes sure each stage is well planned, measured, and sold in the best way.
With a national presence and strong links in the timber sector, Green Belt manages the sale process clearly and professionally, working closely with our partners to help you get the best value from your harvest.
Forest Roads
Having good access can boost your forest’s value, safety, and long-term management.
Forest roads are often needed for maintenance, thinning, harvesting, and timber removal. Green Belt can assess your site, prepare the forest road application, and guide you through the approval process. If grants are available, our foresters will explain the requirements and handle the application for you.
After approval, Green Belt oversees road construction and ensures it meets Forest Service standards. Building roads can be tough, especially on steep slopes or where stone is hard to obtain, but our experienced teams have built forest roads for owners across Ireland.
A well-planned forest road gives you better access to your trees and helps protect your forest’s value over time.
Timber Measurement Services
Accurate timber measurement helps forest owners make better decisions.
Green Belt can assess your forest to identify the species mix, top height, timber volume, and future harvesting potential. Our foresters measure on site and can divide the forest into blocks to give you a clearer picture of crop condition and performance.
For a more detailed assessment, Green Belt can use lidar drone technology to capture images, tree height, ground data, and timber volume. We process this information into practical results to support harvesting decisions, future timber forecasts, and forest sale values.
Better data helps you understand your forest and improves your returns.
WOODCHIPPING
Woodchipping allows timber to be used for biomass, pulp, and renewable energy markets.
Green Belt harvests large amounts of timber across Ireland through thinning and clearfell operations. We can send suitable material to biomass and pulp markets, such as woodchip for heating, CHP facilities, biochar production, and other commercial energy uses.
We handle chipping, transport, and delivery of material to the right locations, using walking floor trailers if needed. We can also arrange supply based on volume, distance, and price for projects needing a steady source of woody biomass.
By matching the right material to the right market, Green Belt helps forest owners get more from their crop, getting value from every branch of every tree.