What makes HIMR unique?
Hollund Industrial Marine is entering the business of underwater logging. Forests submerged by hydroelectric dams are an untapped resource of mostly old growth forests killed when dam reservoirs flooded the land. Until now, these submerged forests could not easily be harvested without great cost and risk to human life and limb. Enter HIMR's TigerLynk AR120 underwater robotic arm. The TigerLynk is the solution to otherwise slow and risky underwater forest harvesting. But, one might ask why look under water for forests at all?
Ancient forests are one of the earth's most spectacular natural wonders, yet after years of logging, most old growth forests have been destroyed. To preserve our last unprotected ancient forests while ensuring a supply of lumber for future generations, it would be wise to support sustainable harvesting methods and use sustainable alternatives. Hollund Industrial Marine has such an alternative. The TigerLynk under water robotic arm and tree harvesting system helps protect surface forests by harvesting trees that are already dead, and thus reducing the pressure to harvest existing and living surface forest trees.
Are there other benefits to underwater forestry?
Once vegetation is flooded, methane gas is naturally produced. Methane is a greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere when the dam's turbines spin to produce electricity. Ironically, trees that normally protect our environment cause harm to the environment when submerged and left to produce methane.
Another benefit of underwater harvesting comes from the old growth wood obtained in these locations --- this wood is valuable. NorthCal, a company working with HIMR on this project, claims they can sell lumber from submerged old growth trees for ten times what other reclaimed wood is sold for. Thus, this type of logging is very profitable.
