This is the nerve-wracking moment a forestry worker dangled upside down from a tree branch to collect cones.

The silviculturist harvested cones from sugar pine, ponderosa pine, and incense cedar in Stanislaus National Forest from late August to early September, just before they naturally opened and dispersed their seeds.

Footage shows the man in full gear, clinging to the branches and shaking the leaves to let the cones fall to the ground.

They gathered 250 bushels of cones during the harvest.

The team said that the seeds extracted from these cones will be nurtured into seedlings at nurseries, ready for planting in areas designated for reforestation within the forest to maintain ecological balance and biodiversity.

A U.S. Forest Service spokesman said: 'The work of our silviculturists is often unseen but crucial for the health of our national forests.

'By collecting these cones, we're effectively banking the future of our forests, ensuring they remain vibrant and resilient.'