Environmental Impacts to Residual Stand Damage due to Logging Operations in Hyrcanian Forest

Authors

  • Meghdad JOURGHOLAMI University of Tehran, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, Zob-e-Ahan Street, Karaj (IR)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb437681

Abstract

The development of harvesting systems aims to provide physically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally sound solutions. Residual stand-damage data have been collected from a mixed broadleaved stand in Kheyrud area in Hyrcanian forest in the northern of Iran. After the harvesting operations, for all trees, damage to the bole, roots, extent of the damage, wounding patterns, size and distribution was assessed using stratified systematic sampling with a random start and fixed area plots. Results show that wounding occurred on 16.4% of the remaining trees, but the severity of wounding varied significantly by species. Forty-six percent of wounding for all species combined was considered as small size. The greatest average amount of damage, to a bole, occurred along the first 1m up from the ground and also within 3m of the skid trail centerline (86.4%). Gouges were present on 79% of all scars. The stratification of the study unit would effectively improve accuracy of stand damage surveys. Selection of the appropriate method for damage reduction to trees adjacent skid trails was crucial. According to the results, skidding damage cannot be completely avoided in practice. We suggest that the education and the entertainment of the foresters and workers in forest would be enhanced and the injuries could be explained before the harvesting to the workers. In such a way the damages would be less in the future.

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Published

2012-08-30

How to Cite

JOURGHOLAMI, M. (2012). Environmental Impacts to Residual Stand Damage due to Logging Operations in Hyrcanian Forest. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 4(3), 65–69. https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb437681

Issue

Section

Research articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nsb437681