This handbook describes the various types of equipment and systems used for harvesting timber in British Columbia. Falling, primary transport (ground, cable and aerial), processing, and loading phases are described in terms of common and distinguishing features and their relationship to operational and environmental considerations. The handbook also discusses the effects of operating techniques, site characteristics, and external requirements from the same operational and environmental perspectives. Primary operating conditions for the various machines types are outlined in summary tables. A series of flowcharts based on risk-analysis system is used to rank the probability of conducting successful operations with different equipment on various sites.