At Coverts, tips are given on chain saw safety

FALLS VILLAGE — Larry Rousseau, a state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection service forester for western Connecticut, gently corrected this reporter’s pronunciation of “coverts.”It’s “CUH-verts,” as in places where birds hide.Not “COE-verts,” as in secret agent stuff.The Great Mountain Forest hosted its annual Coverts education program for landowners over the weekend at the Yale Forestry camp, with lectures and demonstrations and lots of practical advice for people interested in preserving and managing forests and open space.On Saturday afternoon, Rousseau talked about how private landowners can make the best use of their forested property.He said that the average age of Connecticut forests is between 85 and 110 years, with trees 12 inches and more in diameter. “These trees are of sufficient size and age for forest products.”He said that private forest consultants are sometimes regarded unfavorably, as “plunderers of natural resources” who leave a big mess after extracting what they want from a property.However, he noted, what looks like a mess to one person “is another man’s ideal rabbit habitat.”Foresters with the proper training and resources are invaluable, he said. “The finished job can give you the habitat you desire.”The first thing landowners need to do prior to consulting a forester is get an accurate map of the property lines, he said.Then the landowner and forester decide on the approach. There are some tactics that are not considered good practices, including selective cutting, when the timber buyer takes only the premium trees.The landowner should consider “who is doing the selecting,” Rousseau cautioned, lest he be left with smaller trees that just didn’t grow well, thus depressing the value of the property as a whole.The same warning applies to “diameter limit” cutting, when the buyer takes only trees over a certain size.By law, there are different types of forest practitioners certified by the state. Forest Product Harvesters are logging operators who may provide site supervision but cannot oversee an entire operation or sign contracts.Supervising Forest Product Harvesters can supervise harvesting operations and may deal directly with landowners.And state certified Foresters may recommend “silvicultural” methods that meet the landowner’s goals while maintaining a healthy forest.The state Forestry Division’s website has a list of certified forest practicioners. Tom Worthley, a University of Connecticut professor, gave a demonstration of chain saw safety to Coverts participants Saturday.He started by explaining chaps — which are heavy Kevlar coverings for the legs and waist. Wearing a bright orange pair, he displayed an older set with some rips in the fabric.He said he took them off one day and noticed the damage.“When did I get the chain that close?” he said.The five things anyone handling a chain saw should have on, in addition to chaps, are stout leather boots, and a combination hard hat, ear protector and face mask.“This is the minimum for anybody coming on your property. You don’t want someone saying, ‘Uncle Charlie’s got a chain saw, we’ll be right over.’”And the five things to check on the saw are the chain brake mechanism, the spark arrester on the saw’s muffler, the throttle trigger release, the chain catch and the overall appearance of the saw.Check for tight connections, broken plastic and oil leaks.“This saw’s a little dirty,’” he said, holding a smaller model suitable for occasional use. “But it’s in good working order.”And as for starting the saw, he recommends clamping it between the legs rather than putting it on the ground.“In the old days they put it on the ground, but they had just as many back injuries as saw injuries.”