Andorra Launches First Mobile Cable Crane Pilot for Remote Forest Thinning

Ordino parish council has launched Andorra's first pilot project using a mobile cable crane for selective forest thinning in steep, remote areas beyond track access.

The demonstration occurred on Wednesday in the Ribes forest near Ordino pass, Forat Fosc and surrounding zones, covering 170-200 metres of cable across roughly 6,000 square metres—slightly more than half a hectare. The nine-tonne mobile setup, equipped with an aerial transport cable and winch, allows work up to 20 metres on each side of the cable. Technicians can install it in two days and dismantle it in about one and a half. Conventional methods restrict operations to 50-60 metre strips along tracks, leaving most forests unmanaged.

Marc Font, head of Ordino's Agriculture, Environment and Sustainability Department, explained that the trial demonstrates new thinning techniques to sustainably use public forests neglected for 80-90 years. He described forest management as an essential ecosystem service, like roads or lighting, providing benefits such as tourism revenue and improved quality of life that outweigh costs. Only cable systems or helicopters can access these areas, with cables offering lower costs and higher efficiency than helicopters. While the model supports up to 500 metres of cable and 60-metre flanks in optimal conditions, this version emphasises portability.

Cònsol Menor Eduard Betriu noted the project stems from a POCTEFA initiative by Catalonia's Forest Technology Centre, backed by 55% European funding. He highlighted ageing, overgrown forests needing action and aims for Ordino's sports centre to meet its full 350-400 tonnes of annual biomass from local sustainable sources. Plans include a shared cable system across Andorra's seven parishes for remote sites and a new storage facility for year-round supplies. The parish will soon launch a public tender for forest management involving all communes, potentially incorporating cable services at about €350,000 per use.

The 20-day operation targets dead, dominant, weakened or poor-quality trees to promote vigorous regeneration, avoiding clear-cutting.