Mark B Page Chartered Forester

Why undertake timber measurement?

In other industries, buyers and sellers know what the deal is about, a known quantity.

For example: 0.5kg of sugar or the make and model of a car etc.

So, why should the forestry and timber industry be any different?

In the light of the high value of tropical timbers there is especially great pressure on buyers to be sure of the volume of the timber they intend purchase. Caveat emptor may be an ancient doctrine, but it is as true today as it was when first used.

60 year old Teak plantation, Central America.

Sellers who wish to deal honourably with prospective purchasers, and build a good reputation will also benefit from pre-sale measurement, by placing on the market a measured quantity of timber.

I offer the service to measure timber anywhere in the world.

I use established and recognised methods of gathering the information, approved by the UK state forest organisation, the Forestry Commission.

In 2006, I undertook the verification of a volume sample of a teak plantation in Central America. A ball park figure was in discussion by the parties involved. My figure – which was accepted by both parties – was around 25% less, and represented a multi million difference.

6 year old Teak plantation, Central America.

6 year old Teak in Central America.

The tools of the trade are commonly used by foresters: clinometer, tapes and callipers and yield models. However, where there may be no yield model for the timber species in question, or dubious systems, I use remote sensing to assess the volume of the standing trees. This is the Laserace hypsometer, which can measure trees which fit no known models, without felling.

Laserace - invaluable mensuration tool.

Timber measurement is undertaken by myself. I hold £500,000 Professional Indemnity insurance, for work anywhere in the world, and individual jobs of higher value can be insured to higher values.

Please call for a discussion, or use the contact me page to email me.