The right selection of wood for each class of DREVO Timber Reserve

The right selection of wood for each class of DREVO Timber Reserve

Planned periods of underwater storage and control sampling system

Concept

SystemDREVO Timber Reserveshould not be built on the principle: “the more valuable the rock, the longer it is kept under water.”

The actual result is determined by a combination of several factors:

breed;

proportion of core wood;

age and diameter of the tree;

presence of rot;

mechanical damage;

the duration of exposure of the tree to air before immersion;

water temperature;

oxygen content;

chemical composition of water;

type of bottom sediments;

immersion depth;

water level stability;

the possibility of proper preservation after extraction.

A low-oxygen, water-saturated environment significantly slows many decay processes, but does not stop them completely. Under such conditions, wood can be slowly destroyed by erosive bacteria, and in the presence of oxygen, by soft-rot bacteria and fungi.

The main principle:

The storage period is assigned not to the species in general, but to each specific trunk after examination and inclusion in the experimental observation program.

1. DREVO Timber Reserve Classes

It is proposed to use four main storage classes.

Additionally, subcategories are introduced within each class:

1 - premium barrel;

2 - standard barrel;

3 - research shaft;

E - ecological wood, not intended for extraction.

Example of marking:

A1-OAK-2045-0187

means:

class A;

premium level;

oak;

year of laying 2045;

Individual number 0187.

2. General requirements for selection

The strategic reserve is primarily allocated to barrels that meet the following requirements:

known origin;

absence of industrial chemical impregnations;

absence of deep fungal destruction;

preserved central part of the trunk;

minimal number of longitudinal cracks;

absence of severe charring;

no oil pollution;

absence of metal inclusions or the possibility of their removal;

sufficient diameter;

the possibility of reliable identification of the breed.

It is preferable to use:

mature trunks;

straight sections 2–3 m long;

large butt parts;

wood with a high proportion of core;

trees removed due to windfall, flood, accidents or riverbed restoration.

3. Wood that should not be placed in the strategic reserve

Not suitable:

heavily rotten trunks;

wood with active deep rot;

material after chemical treatment;

wood with unknown industrial contamination;

trunks after long-term storage in variable humid conditions;

wood with numerous frost cracks;

thin branches without research value;

trunks infested with dangerous invasive pests;

wood from contaminated sanitary zones;

material with radioactive or toxicological contamination.

Such wood is sent:

in ecological designs;

on biochar;

in a bush;

into fascines;

for energy utilization, if it is safe;

into specialized processing.

4. Class D - experimental reserve

Planned date

5–20 years.

This is a mandatory starting class for:

new breeds;

new marsh areas;

new types of bottom sediments;

new methods of fixation;

unknown chemical composition of water.

No breed should be immediately sent en masse to a reserve for 100-300 years without prior experimental storage.

Suitable breeds

Almost all local breeds can be included in the experimental class:

oak;

ash tree;

elm;

maple;

beech;

alder;

birch;

poplar;

willow;

walnut;

chestnut;

larch;

pine;

ale;

fir;

cedar pines;

fruit trees.

Required number of samples

For each species, it is advisable to plant not just one trunk, but a series:

5-10 full-size barrels;

10–30 control sections;

sapwood and heartwood samples;

samples with and without bark;

samples at different depths.

Control extracts

Recommended schedule:

after 1 year;

in 3 years;

in 5 years;

in 10 years;

in 15–20 years.

The following are checked:

density;

maximum humidity;

shrinkage;

hardness;

strength;

chemical composition;

microbiological destruction;

color change;

ability to undergo subsequent preservation.

5. Class C - medium-term reserve

Planned date

20–50 years.

The class is intended for wood that can be used by the next generation.

Key future applications:

furniture;

interior elements;

artistic processing;

small architectural forms;

cladding;

restoration projects;

experimental musical instruments.

Recommended breeds

Oak

The main breed of class C.

Advantages:

high value of heartwood;

historically proven ability to persist in water-saturated sediments;

expressive change in color;

Widely used after extraction.

Among water-saturated species, oak often shows comparatively good preservation, although even it can suffer serious bacterial and chemical damage.

Recommended period:

20–50 years;

part of the batch is left longer.

Larch

Suitable due to its dense and resinous heartwood.

Recommended period:

20–50 years;

up to 70 years in a stable environment after positive control tests.

Elm

Can form a decorative material with a distinct fibrous structure.

Limitation:

Water-saturated elm is capable of being deeply degraded and severely deformed after drying.

Recommended period:

20–40 years;

only with regular monitoring.

Ash tree

Suitable for research and decorative parties.

Recommended period:

15–40 years;

longer storage only after evaluation of prototypes.

Walnut

It is a valuable material, but there is significantly less data on predicted artificial perennial flooding than on oak.

Recommended period:

10–30 years in pilot production mode;

The best barrels are transferred to class B.

Chestnut

Promising due to its content of extractive substances and economic value.

Recommended period:

20–50 years;

Comparison of samples from different bodies of water is essential.

6. Class B - long-term reserve

Planned date

50–100 years.

This is the main timber reserve for the children and grandchildren of the generation that created the reserve.

Only the following barrels are transferred to class B:

successfully completed the experimental stage;

originating from a verified site;

not exhibiting a dangerous loss of density;

resistant to selected storage conditions;

having high potential value.

Main breeds

Oak is priority number 1

It is recommended to select:

large diameter;

high proportion of heartwood;

straight trunk;

absence of central rot;

slow or moderate growth;

age structure suitable for dendrochronological studies.

Planned date:

50-100 years;

Individual trunks are transferred to class A.

Larch

Preferably:

mature kernel;

dense annual rings;

absence of deep resin cracks;

northern or mountain origin, if this corresponds to the local breed.

Planned date:

50-100 years after positive tests.

Elm

Used in limited quantities.

Planned date:

50–70 years;

no more than a small share of the fund;

mandatory control cores or samples.

Ash tree

It is used as a valuable research and artistic material.

Planned date:

40–70 years;

up to 100 years only for confirmed genetic lines and stable conditions.

Chestnut

Planned date:

40–80 years;

up to 100 years after confirmation of preservation.

Pine and some other conifers

Suitable primarily for experimental and specialized batches.

Planned date:

30–70 years;

Longer storage depends on the species, resin content and water conditions.

7. Class A - strategic and historical reserve

Planned date

100–300 years.

This class is not a typical commercial warehouse.

Its tasks:

to preserve the wooden heritage of the era;

to create material for future cultural projects;

preserve dendrochronological and genetic information;

create a reserve for museums and restoration;

to form long-term natural capital.

Main breed

Oak

Oak must form the basis of class A.

Recommended share:

approximately 50–70% of the Class A fund if the oak is native to the region and available from legal restoration works.

Requirements:

large diameter;

mature heartwood;

absence of deep rot;

complete digital history;

control sample from each trunk;

stable hydrological sector class A;

the possibility of future robotic extraction.

Additional breeds

Larch

Fate:

approximately 10–20%.

Purpose:

architectural elements;

artwork;

scientific foundation.

Elm

Fate:

no more than 5-10% to achieve long-term results.

Purpose:

artistic wood;

research collections.

Ash tree

Fate:

5–10%.

Purpose:

genetic and dendrochronological archive;

cultural products;

experimental material.

Walnut

Fate:

small premium lots.

Deadline:

100 years only after passing classes D, C and B.

Maple

Used in small quantities for:

musical instruments;

decorative products;

scientific comparison.

Deadline:

50-100 years;

In class A - only individual confirmed trunks.

8. Species not recommended for storage for 100–300 years without a proven program

The historical period should not be assigned automatically:

poplar;

this;

Ives;

bereze;

alder;

noise;

fruit species;

young conifers;

small-sized wood.

This doesn't mean they can't survive underwater. Some archaeological specimens of poplar, elm, ash, and other species have survived for centuries and millennia, but their cellular structure has often been significantly degraded. Maintaining shape underwater doesn't equate to maintaining the original mechanical strength.

It is better to use such breeds:

in class D;

in class C;

as ecological wood;

in scientific comparative games.

9. Selection of wood by diameter

Diameter up to 15 cm

Purpose:

ecological designs;

fascines;

research samples;

Class D.

It is generally not practical to store it for 100 years as a separate strategic barrel.

Diameter 15–30 cm

Purpose:

classes D and C;

experimental batches;

small pieces of art.

Diameter 30–50 cm

Main production category.

Purpose:

classes C and B;

Some of the best barrels are class A.

Diameter 50–80 cm

Premium category.

Purpose:

classes B and A;

museum and architectural projects;

large furniture blanks.

Diameter over 80 cm

Special historical fund.

Each trunk is considered individually.

Necessary:

3D scanning;

tomography;

core analysis;

dendrochronological description;

reinforced fixation system;

separate extraction plan.

10. Selection by tree part

Butt part

Most valuable for:

large decorative blanks;

massive products;

artistic processing.

But it may contain:

hidden cavities;

internal rot;

stones;

metal objects.

A tomographic examination is required.

Middle part of the trunk

The most versatile.

Advantages:

straightforwardness;

uniform structure;

ease of storage;

high material yield.

This is the main material of classes B and A.

Upper part of the trunk

Fits:

for class C;

for small items;

for research.

Large forks and burls

May have high artistic value.

They are placed in special cassettes and receive a separate passport.

11. Selection by wood condition

Condition 1 - excellent

Signs:

absence of deep rot;

solid core;

a small number of cracks;

saved geometry;

high acoustic density.

Tolerance:

classes A, B, C.

Condition 2 - good

Signs:

local damage;

slight sapwood rot;

individual cracks;

strong core.

Tolerance:

classes B, C;

Class A after additional testing.

Condition 3 - satisfactory

Signs:

significant knots;

local cavities;

partial rot;

deformation.

Tolerance:

classes C and D.

State 4 - ecological

Signs:

deep rot;

multiple cavities;

low future material value;

high habitat value.

Purpose:

category E;

remains in the ecosystem.

12. Schedule of planned inspections

Class D

annual automatic monitoring;

physical sample after 1-3 years;

control after 5 years;

control after 10 years;

final assessment after 15–20 years.

Class C

automatic monitoring continuously;

detailed examination every 3-5 years;

control sample after 10 years;

assessment of the possibility of extraction in 20–30 years;

final decision by age 50.

Class B

automatic monitoring continuously;

sonar survey every 3-5 years;

extended analysis every 10 years;

control trunks after 25 and 50 years;

decision to extend storage after 50–70 years.

Class A

continuous hydrological monitoring;

robotic examination every 5 years;

physical control of special samples every 10–20 years;

revision of the legal and environmental status every 20–25 years;

decision on continuing storage at the 100, 150, 200 and 250 year mark.

13. Control trunks and samples

You can't test your strategic reserve by regularly damaging your main premium guns.

For each party the following are created:

main trunks;

control short sections;

control boards;

sapwood samples;

core wood samples;

samples of different diameters.

It is recommended to have a separate set of control samples for every 20-50 main trunks.

They are the ones that are extracted for laboratory testing.

14. Transition between classes

The barrel can change class.

Upgrade

Possibly if:

the condition remains stable;

no critical bacterial destruction;

the storage area has confirmed its reliability;

control sample results are positive;

legal protection is maintained.

Example:

D → C → B → A.

Downgrade

Required when:

lowering the water level;

deterioration of water quality;

dangerous loss of density;

moving the barrel;

pollution;

damage to fasteners;

changes in hydrology.

The trunk can be:

prematurely extracted;

transferred;

transferred to the research fund;

left as ecological timber.

15. Planned dates by breed

This table isproject planning system, and not a guarantee of safety.

16. Planned distribution of the fund

For a mature DREVO Heritage Timber Bank system the following indicative structure can be used:

This is not a mandatory standard. Proportions are determined individually for each forest, floodplain, and restoration project.

17. What happens after extraction?

The extracted water-saturated wood cannot simply be left to air dry.

Due to the destruction of cell walls, it can:

crack;

dry out a lot;

deform;

lose shape;

collapse.

For valuable trunks a separate program is required:

transportation in wet condition;

initial examination;

measuring the degree of degradation;

selection of preservation method;

slow controlled drying;

possible impregnation with a stabilizing composition;

repeat mechanical check.

The problem of deformation and destruction of water-saturated wood after extraction is well known in the conservation of archaeological objects.

The final model

Class D

We're checking.

All new breeds and new storage locations.

Deadline:

5–20 years.

Class C

We are creating material for the next generation.

Breeds:

oak;

larch;

elm;

ash tree;

chestnut;

walnut;

experimental conifers.

Deadline:

20–50 years.

Class B

We create capital for children and grandchildren.

Breeds:

mainly oak;

larch;

the best lots of ash, elm and chestnut.

Deadline:

50–100 years.

Class A

We create a wooden legacy for centuries to come.

Breeds:

mainly oak;

limited larch;

individual confirmed trunks of other valuable species.

Deadline:

100–300 years.

The main conclusion

ForDREVO Timber ReserveWhat's more important is not the maximum shelf life, but maintaining controlled quality.

A tree trunk that has lain underwater for 300 years won't necessarily be any better than one retrieved 50 years later. It may acquire a unique color and historical value, but at the same time lose a significant portion of its original structure.

Therefore, the system must operate as a living bank:

create different age groups;

conduct control extractions;

compare breeds;

translate trunks between classes;

remove material early if the condition worsens;

preserve only the best examples for centuries.

Not all wood should last long. But the best wood should have the opportunity to survive for generations.