This study assessed the damage to residual trees in forest stands thinned by both a wheeled harvester and a forwarder. Data collection took place at a company located in the State of Paraná, in Southern Brazil; in 12-year-old Pinus taeda stands conducted to their first thinning; and in terrains from 0 to 10º and 10 to 20º slope classes. Damage to residual trees was assessed by intensity, location, and wound area. Damage was compared by the t-test at a 5% probability level, while wound area was analyzed by minimum, mean and maximum values. Results showed high total damage percentages after the harvesting, with 36.1% and 29.1% in the 0 to 10º and 10 to 20º slopes, respectively, but without statistical difference. Most of the damage was caused by the movement of the harvester boom while cutting trees during the selective thinning process. Moreover, most of the damage appeared on the trunks of 11.6% residual trees, on the sides facing the road and the stand, with an mean wound area under 100 cm². The wheeled harvester is not recommended for the first thinning in planted forests, because of the high damage to residual trees.

A workshop on Pilot Peer Support programs and how to create them will be held in Frankfurt June 20-21, 2018. Details about the venue and the workshop program are to be found soon on the EPPSI website http://eppsi.eu/.The workshop is organized by the European Pilot Peer Support Initiative (EPPSI) and the agenda highlights are: What peer support system for my organisation? Selection, training and currency of peers. Peer support, safety management system and oversight.

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