This development was initiated by the Pacific Forest Research Centre's work on the problem of pine beetle infestation and their finding that the spread of the beetle could be controlled by the removal of the bark from infested trees in isolated outbreaks of attack in operation, the machine is placed on the tree, climbs it and removes the branches. At a predetermined height, the machine reverses direction and activates the debarker which removes the bark on the trip down. Other possible used of this machine are discussed.