The trend in harvesting systems has been towards increasing mechanization. In 1995, FERIC with funding from Canada's Model Forest Program, monitored harvesting on two operations - a conventional system (hand faller/hand delimber/line skidder) and a mechanical system (feller-buncher/grapple skidder/stroke delimber) - to document the costs and productivities, employment levels, fuel consumption, and site disturbance.