Production economics and carbon footprint of an integrated timber harvesting operation in the Northeastern US

• The objectives of this study were to a) assess productivity and cost of stump-to-truck integrated timber harvesting operation, and b) quantify the carbon footprint of the harvesting operation. Estimating the operating cost and carbon footprint of integrated timber harvesting operations is essential to promote the forest residues as a major contributor of bioenergy in the changing scenarios of climate and wildfires. • The cost of roundwood timber harvesting was $11.68 m −3 . • Skidding was the most expensive ($5.34 m −3 ) and had the highest carbon footprint among the stump-to-truck processes. • The cost of the roundwood operation increased by 3.31 % when self-loading truck was in place of the loader at the landing. • The chipping cost was $7.24. • Carbon footprint of roundwood harvesting and woodchips production was 0.68 kg CO 2 eq m −3 and 0.81 kg CO 2 eq tonne −1 , respectively. Woody biomass has tremendous potential to reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy, however, the high cost, uncertain harvesting carbon footprint, and policies may hinder it from becoming a predominant component of the US renewable energy sector, particularly in the Northeast. The objectives of this study were to a) assess productivity (m 3 PMH −1 ) and cost ($ m −3 ) of a stump-to-truck integrated timber harvesting operation; b) identify and evaluate major factors affecting operational productivity and cost; and c) quantify carbon footprint of the harvesting operation. Detailed time and motion studies were conducted in a softwood dominated forest stand in upstate New York, during the summer of 2021. Stump-to-truck life cycle assessment (LCA) of roundwood harvesting and wood chips production was quantified using USLCI and US-EI 2.2 databases and TRACI method in Simapro 9.3.0.3 software. The functional units were 1 m 3 of green roundwood (50 % moisture content) and 1 tonne of green wood chips (moisture content 50 %). The results showed that the harvesting cost was $12.98 m −3 and $7.40 tonne −1 for roundwood and wood chips, respectively. Grapple skidder had the lowest productivity (m 3 PMH −1 ) and the highest carbon footprint. The carbon footprint of stump-to-truck timber harvesting operation accounted for 0.726 kg CO 2 eq m −3 and 0.818 kg CO 2 eq tonne −1 for roundwood and wood chips, respectively. The chipping cost was $7.40 tonne −1 . The harvesting cost decreased by 4.5 % when self-loading truck was used instead of a loader. Estimating operating cost and carbon footprint of integrated timber harvesting operations is essential to promote the forest residues as a major contributor of bioenergy in the changing scenarios of climate.