Research Article | Published: 01 June 2008

Planning of optimum skid trails in order to reduce environmental damages in Shafaroud forest (Northern Iran)

Ramin Naghdi, Iraj Bagheri and Sharyar Zamanipour

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 31 | Issue: 2 | Page No. 251-256 | 2008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2008-FNRF2G | Cite this article

Abstract

Harvesting and intervening in forest with regard to their capability and capacity is necessary in order to promote quality, quantity and breeding of forest stand. On the other hand, extraction of logs and their products is one of the most important operations in harvesting which is generally carried out by machinery along skid trail network. Therefore, determining skid trails and taking into consideration the related standards is necessary in order to reach harvesting objectives. GPS was used to survey skid trails and existing road network of Shafaroud Forest District number 3 and then a Map of skid trail network was prepared. The prepared Map covered 1059 hectares of Shafaroud Forest District Number 3. Then with the use of environmental factors and analyzing them the area was divided into suitable and unsuitable areas: Unsuitable areas are; areas with slope of more than 65%, soil susceptible to land slide, areas with ruined forest (volume less than100m3/ha), areas which contain Porotia, Diospirus and Pertrocaria species, areas with no trees, rural areas and valleys. Suitable areas are; areas with slope of less than 65%, areas with suitable soil, good drainage and suitable texture, areas that have volume of more than 100m3/ha, area which have Fagus and Carpinus species, etc.

GIS Arc view/Arc info and etc were used to digitize and prepare related Maps and in order to find suitable areas and avoiding environmental damages the most suitable skid trails network were designed which covers 801ha of total area of district. Finally, the existing skid trails network Map was compared with the most suitable designed skid trails network. The results showed that 712 ha of the area that were covered by existing skid trails network were unsuitable areas for designing and constructing skid trails network and therefore causes environmental damages and also only 347 ha of the area that were covered by existing skid trails network were suitable areas. Meanwhile 454 ha of total District which were suitable areas, were not covered by the existing skid trails network. These areas were considered when designing the new skid trails network. The results of this research can be used in designing more appropriate skid trails with less environmental damages.

Keywords

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Cedefgen, J.J.; Falck, A. Garcia, F. Goh and Hagner, M. (1994). Reducing impact without reducing yield. ITTO Tropical Forest Update Newsletter, 4(3):11-12.

Google Scholar

2. Conway, S. (1984). Logging Practices Principles of Timber Harvesting Systems. Miller Freeman Publications. Inc. 1984,385pp.

Google Scholar

3. Dykstra, D. and Henrich, R. (1996). FAO. Model Code of Forest Harvesting Practice. FAO of the United Nations. Rome, 85pp.

Google Scholar

4. Forshed, O.; Adarbe, T.; Karlsson, A. and Falck, J. (2006). Initial impact of supervised logging and pre-logging climber cutting compared with conventional logging in a Dipterocarp rain forest in Sabah, Malaysia. Forest Ecology and Management, 221: 233-240.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.10.007

Google Scholar

5. Hashemi, J. (1991). Terrain classification for forest harvesting planning. M.S. Thesis of the University of Tehran. 150pp.

6. Javadpour, A. (2006). Investigating the wood extraction system in two planned and unplanned landing conditions. M.s. Thesis of the University of Guilan. 170pp.

7. Mattsson-Marn, H.; E. Vel, O. de Jongh and Hui, D.C.K. (1981). Planning and cost studies in harvesting in the mixed Dipterocarp forest of Sarawak: Part I. Based on maps derived from ground survey. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Google Scholar

8. Naghdi, R. (2004). Comparative study of Tree Length and Assortment Logging Methods for determination of suitable forest road network. Ph.D Thesis of the Tarbiat Modares University.230pp.

9. Pinard, M.A.; Putz, F.E.; Tay, J. and Sullivan, T.E. (1995). Creating timber harvest guidelines for a reduced-impact logging project in Malaysia. Journal of Forestry, 93(10):41-45.

Google Scholar

10. Pinard, M.A.; Barker, M.G. and Tay, J. (2000). Soil disturbance and post-logging forest recovery on bulldozer paths in Sabah. Malaysia. Forest Ecology and Management, 130: 213-225.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00192-9

Google Scholar

11. Sobhani, H and Naiej, S. (2004). Guidebook for skid trails network planning. Harvesting sector of the Iranian forests and pastures organization.85pp.

12. Whitman, A.A.; Brokaw, N.V.L and Hagan, J.M. (1997). Forest damage caused by selection logging of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) in Northern Belize. Forest Ecology and Management, 92:87-96.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(96)03941-2

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Naghdi, R., Bagheri, I. and Zamanipour, S., 2008. Planning of optimum skid trails in order to reduce environmental damages in Shafaroud forest (Northern Iran). Indian Journal of Forestry, 31(2), pp.251-256. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2008-FNRF2G

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 June 2008

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: