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Weather is a significant factor influencing forest health, productivity, and the carbon cycle. However, our understanding of these effects is limited for many regions and ecosystems. Assessing the impact of weather variability on harvester productivity from plantation forests may assist in forest planning through the use of data modeling. We investigated whether weather data combined with timber harvesting attributes could be used to create a high-performance model that could accurately predict harvester productivity in Eucalyptus plantations using machine learning. Furthermore, we aimed to provide an online application to assist forest managers in applying the model. For the modeling, we considered 15 weather and timber harvesting attributes. We considered productivity as the target attribute. We subjected the database to 24 common algorithms in default mode and compared them according to error metrics and accuracy. From the timber harvesting features combined with weather features, the Catboost model can predict the productivity of harvesters in a tuned mode, with a coefficient of determination of 0.70. The use of weather data combined with timber harvesting attributes in the model is an accurate approach for predicting harvester productivity in Eucalyptus plantations, allowing for the creation of an online, free application to assist forest managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable forest management is important to maintain the ability of forests to grow and provide a range of products and environmental services while retaining their natural features. We find that income, radiata pine prices, trade, agricultural expansion, and environmental policies have a significant impact on timber harvesting in New Zealand. Increase in income, radiata pine prices, number of farms, horticulture plantation and bank loans lead to an increase in timber harvesting. On the other hand, environmental policies, especially those to mitigate climate change, decrease timber harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of increased demand for timber, forest managers must consider best practices in forest management and harvesting operations. Depending on the harvesting systems adopted, the uncertainties of the cost components may reflect the volatility of productivity and the expected value of the project. We investigated whether the uncertainties of the cost components have an influence on the productivity volatility and the expected value of the mechanized timber harvesting investment project with a feller buncher. Monthly feller buncher productivity volatilities were measured based on the absolute value of the percentage variation in the deviation of the cost and productivity components. We modeled productivity and cost components using geometric Brownian motion to estimate project value. Productivity showed a strong positive correlation with the cost components of economic depreciation, supervisor labor, fuel, and operator labor. Lubricating oil and economic depreciation were the most volatile cost components. Considering the deterministic economic analysis, the net present value was USD 3,849,619. When considering the probabilistic economic analysis, the average net present value was USD 187,319 ± USD 1,275,033. We verified that economic depreciation and fuel influenced feller buncher productivity. The uncertainties of these components affect the economic viability of the feller buncher in Eucalyptus plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practices in sustainable forest management are ruled by national forest policies. Legal standards of forest management applied in Central African region display increasing risks of long-term depletion of timber resources. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of sustainable logging practices by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the forest management rules applied in Cameroon. The management of the populations of timber tree species is based on population dynamics traits and on measures imposed by national forestry policies. Before any exploitation in natural forest concessions, a management plan must be approved to define the various activities and the potential impacts on the forest. Despite many relevant principles, nearly three decades of forest management in Cameroon have exhibited gaps that need to be addressed in the legal standards of forest management. Proposals for improvement relate to procedures for determining the recovery rate and how considerations on density and seed tree populations should be included into the legal management policies. These suggestions depend on the knowledge of demographic dynamics and the reproductive ecology of the timber taxa as well as a more rapid integration of scientific results into the legal forest management standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used to survey forests for decades. To monitor post-forest operation effects such as the surface deformation of forest soils (e.g., soil erosion and deposition), the alignment of 3D surface models using ground control points (GCPs) by georeferencing is necessary. However, the GCP network optimization for surveying forests has not been clearly established. We installed 29 GCPs on tree stumps in a post-timber harvesting site to spatially correct UAV survey results, for which real-time kinematics data were unavailable. The GCPs for georeferencing were randomly selected from 13 validation sets for each of the three trials in this study; the GCP and checkpoint root mean square errors (RMSEs) were used for determining the georeferencing results. Even if the number of GCPs increased, the GCP RMSE did not decrease; the checkpoint RMSE decreased by 2.03 cm. The 3D surface model alignment using 6 and 26 GCPs did not show a significant difference in alignment error (3.78 and 2.96 cm, respectively). Our results reveal that GCP RMSE does not affect the alignment error; therefore, we suggest using at least 6 GCPs for the precise alignment of 3D surface models while utilizing the same GCPs for aligning pre- and post-3D surface models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most logging businesses in the US South are owned by White males, many of whom are approaching retirement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of logging businesses with a young owner, beginning (new) business owner, and businesses owned by members of a minority group (YBM). In-person interviews were conducted with twelve YBM logging business owners in Florida and Georgia to gather information on business characteristics and perceived barriers to the formation of these businesses. The YBM business owners were more educated, employed more workers, and had similar capital investments relative to other logging business owners. These owners stated that difficulty recruiting quality employees, high startup costs, lack of industry connections, and high insurance premiums were unique obstacles to establishing YBM businesses. Purposeful actions by the forest industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders may encourage the formation and retention of YBM logging businesses. Study Implications: As the current generation of logging business owners leaves the industry, it is important to develop new businesses. New businesses will likely be owned by young owners, mid-career professionals starting new logging businesses (beginning businesses), and businesses owned by members of a minority group (YBM). Targeted efforts by loggers' associations, the forest industry, and other stakeholders that provide business management training, develop a skilled workforce of equipment operators and log truck drivers, and promote policies that result in affordable insurance may encourage the establishment and retention of YBM businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weather is a significant factor influencing forest health, productivity, and the carbon cycle. However, our understanding of these effects is limited for many regions and ecosystems. Assessing the impact of weather variability on harvester productivity from plantation forests may assist in forest planning through the use of data modeling. We investigated whether weather data combined with timber harvesting attributes could be used to create a high-performance model that could accurately predict harvester productivity in Eucalyptus plantations using machine learning. Furthermore, we aimed to provide an online application to assist forest managers in applying the model. For the modeling, we considered 15 weather and timber harvesting attributes. We considered productivity as the target attribute. We subjected the database to 24 common algorithms in default mode and compared them according to error metrics and accuracy. From the timber harvesting features combined with weather features, the Catboost model can predict the productivity of harvesters in a tuned mode, with a coefficient of determination of 0.70. The use of weather data combined with timber harvesting attributes in the model is an accurate approach for predicting harvester productivity in Eucalyptus plantations, allowing for the creation of an online, free application to assist forest managers.

Logging businesses in Georgia and Florida combine to harvest approximately 66 million tons of timber annually, more than 10% of the US total. Since 1987, the University of Georgia has surveyed Georgia logging business owners every 5 years. Florida logging businesses were included in 2022 to gain a better understanding of logging businesses in the region. During the first quarter of 2022, questionnaires were mailed to 503 and 132 logging businesses in Georgia and Florida, respectively. Adjusted response rates were 22% in Georgia and 25% in Florida. Logging businesses produced an average of 1,956 and 2,619 tons per week in Georgia and Florida, respectively. The median owner age was approximately 56 years in Georgia and 58 years in Florida. Nearly 40% of owners were over 60 years old in both states. More than 30% of loggers in both states expected to leave the industry within 5 years. The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on logging businesses, with over 80% of logging business owners reporting reduced production, employees becoming infected, and/or difficulty finding employees. Logging business owners identified fuel, labor, trucking, and insurance as their greatest challenges in 2022. Study Implications : Rising costs, turbulent markets, and shortages of labor are stressing many logging businesses. In the short term, adjustments to logging rates are needed to respond to increased input costs. In the long term, individual logging businesses, loggers' associations, and the forest industry should collaborate to increase the pool of qualified labor, address trucking and insurance challenges, and create succession plans for logging business owners that plan to leave the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifts in habitat selection may serve as behavioral indicators of changing habitat quality and can provide an insight into the effects of chronic disturbance on wildlife populations before rates of occurrence and other metrics related to population viability are affected. Long‐term studies can provide unique opportunities to understand animals' behavioral responses to the cumulative effects of habitat disturbance that may be missed by short‐term studies or space‐for‐time substitution. Using the American marten (Martes americana) as a focal species, we evaluated the effects of progressive habitat disturbance on an animal population by identifying changes in habitat availability and selection over time. Marten are strongly associated with mature forest conditions and are thus sensitive to forest harvesting, which is a chronic and prevalent form of disturbance across the species' range. We developed resource selection functions that characterized both temporally consistent patterns and functional responses in the relative selection of habitats by marten at the patch scale. We used a combination of marten location data collected during three periods over 30 years of extensive forest change in northern Maine and a habitat classification scheme informed by species' behavior and designed to capture habitat changes over time. Marten increased their selection of tall (>12 m mean tree height) mature forest, including uncut forest and regenerated clearcuts, in response to decreased availability. Marten also increased avoidance of early‐successional forest (<9 m mean tree height) in response to increased availability. These functional responses in habitat selection appear to enable marten to maintain access to required resources in mature forest and limit exposure to risky or resource‐poor habitat within home ranges. However, a declining trend in the occurrence of resident adult females may indicate a limit to the functional response strategies for individuals unable to incur the energetic or prey‐related costs that may be associated with strong functional responses. Our results suggest that, despite adaptive habitat selection strategies, there are minimum thresholds of mature forest availability below which resident adults, particularly females, will struggle to persist. We recommend forest management strategies targeted at minimizing the strength of functional responses displayed by marten within occupied landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The awareness of machine productivity is essential when considering the management of mechanized forest harvesting costs, an important issue for sustainable economic planning, especially when considering the significant contribution of this activity to the total cost of timber production. The aim of the study was to evaluate the productivity and production costs of the harvester (cut-to-length system) according to the average volume per tree (AVT), in stands located in the northeast region of Brazil, which varied from 0.16 to 0.58 cubic meters without bark (m3 wb). We considered the commercial volume of wood in this assessment. The productivity of the harvester in stands with different characteristics, including small, medium and large trees, was evaluated. The time study method was employed to perform the technical analysis, which assisted in the calculation of productivity, mechanical availability and utilization rate. Regarding the economic analysis, the fixed and variable costs were evaluated. The results revealed an operating cost of USD 101.75 he−1 for the harvester, being 16.48% for fixed costs and 83.52% for variable costs. The costs of maintenance and repairs, labor, fuel and depreciation represented 84.42% of this total. The harvester showed a lower production cost for large trees (higher average volume per tree). Considerable machine efficiency reduction was observed in a low productivity forest, significantly increasing the costs per cubic meter harvested, varying from USD 2.56 m−3 (large trees) to USD 5.75 m−3 (small trees). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A unique and long-term analysis of severe and fatal accidence in forestry. • The occurrence of severe or fatal occupational accidents was significantly affected by the type of contract between the forest enterprise and the workers. • The frequency of severe occupational accidents decreased over time. • 93.7 % fatal OAs were caused by falling trees or tree parts (branches, treetops, or uprooted stumps). Introduction : Forestry is one of the most dangerous industries worldwide. Workers handle heavy loads and are exposed to numerous adverse factors of the work environment. This study was focused on analyzing severe and fatal occupational accidents over a long period. Methods : Data were gathered from occupational safety and health databases of the State Forests of the Slovak Republic, which manages 879,113 ha of forests in Slovakia. Between 2007 and 2021, 210 severe and 64 fatal accidents were recorded. The data analyses included contingency tables, Pearson χ2 test, and Cramer's V coefficient to analyze the relationships between studied variables. Results: The mean annual number of fatalities was 14, occurring to workers aged 42 on average. Almost 80% of all fatal accidents were suffered by contractors of harvesting operations, who were 5.23 times more likely to suffer a fatality than company employees. On average, 1.28 severe and 0.75 fatal accidents occurred per 1 million m3 of harvested timber. The outcomes of the correlation analysis showed a decreasing trend in incidence in the case of severe accidents. Workers ≤ 30 years or between 51 and 60 years of age were the most vulnerable in the case of fatal accidents. In the case of severe accidents, workers between 51 and 60 were the most vulnerable group. Most fatal accidents were suffered by tree fellers (72.2%) during felling (69.8%), who were in contact with falling trees and tree parts (93.7% share for this material agent). Conclusion and Practical Applications: The presented study identified the most vulnerable worker groups as well as the effects of factors on the occurrence of severe and fatal occupational accidents in forestry. The results will serve in development of occupational safety and health strategies in forest enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood products are an essential provisioning ecosystem service with US forests providing nearly one-fifth of global wood supply. As of 2018, an estimated 46% of the annual wood harvested came from corporate forests, 42% came from family forests, and the remainder came from other private, public, and Tribal forests. The supply of wood from corporate forests is well described by traditional economic models, but the supply from family forests is much less well understood. This article combines data from three components of the USDA Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis program—plots, landowner surveys, and mill surveys—with other data to model the wood supply from family forests in the United States. Results are summarized in terms of bivariate relationships and a logistic regression model. The model results show that basal area, stand origin, forest type, having timber as an ownership objective, the amount of annual income derived from their forestland, proximity to a mill, management advice, and region are significantly associated with family forest timber harvesting. The results should be useful for forest industry analysts and others interested in understanding the current and potential future supply of wood from family forests. Study Implications : Family forests provide an estimated 42% of the annual timber harvested in the United States. It is important to understand the factors affecting their harvesting behaviors to design effective policies and programs to ensure a continual supply and sustainable management of this critical resource. This article shows that timber harvesting by family forest owners is influenced by a combination of biophysical, social, and economic factors, including basal area, stand origin, forest type, having timber as an ownership objective, the amount of annual income derived from their forestland, proximity to a mill, management advice, and region. These results suggest that programs aimed at increasing the area covered by planted stands, the area covered by softwood stands, and the number of owners receiving forest management advice may be particularly influential in maintaining and increasing the amount of wood harvested from family forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest area of the Far East reaches almost 50 % of the forest area of the Russian Federation. The share of the operational forest fund accounts for about 50 %, the rest are protective, protected, low-density, near-tundra and reserve forests. Most of the operational forests have been developed. The permissible volume of wood withdrawal is 92.0 million m3 . Moreover, it is planned to harvest only 14 % by selective logging, the rest of the wood is planned to harvest by clear cuts. Care felling and forest health improving felling in the forests of the Far East are carried out in insignificant volumes. Timber harvesting during the creation of infrastructure facilities is organized mainly in subjects with a developed mining industry. The high diversity of forests and the differences in their growing conditions determined the need to allocate 12 special forest areas here, in 10 of which timber harvesting is carried out. Both continuous and selective logging methods are used. The main volume of logging take place on the Far Eastern taiga region and amounts 8.9 million m3 , mainly by continuous logging. Selective logging of up to 3.5 million m3 of wood prevails in the Amur-Primorsky coniferous-deciduous area. In the Kamchatka taiga, Trans-Baikal forest-steppe and Altai-Sayan mountain-taiga forest areas, timber harvesting is carried out in insignificant volumes, only for the own needs of the population. Currently, due to the significant depletion of operational forests, the dynamics of timber harvesting in the Far Eastern Federal District tends to decrease.

Tree felling and processing can create harvesting residues including leaves and twigs (needles), cones, barks, and branches. Collecting forest harvesting residues requires application of suitable machines and working methods. This article is aimed at reviewing the published reports to identify new harvesting machines and working methods for recovering harvesting residues and the current gaps. The scope of review included published research reports/articles from 2017 to 2022 (last five years). This global review results showed that popular methods for residue collection are chipping residues at roadside/landing and integrated biomass recovery. Forwarder, cable yarder and in-field chipper are predominantly applied within various recovery methods depending on ground and stand conditions. Harvesting residues are one of the promising sources for bioenergy production which requires developing efficient and low-cost harvesting systems. Latest research findings indicate that piling harvesting residues by a harvester-pro-cessor can improve the collecting productivity by the forwarder within cut-to-length harvesting opera-tions. Integrating residue biomass recovery with conventional timber supply can reduce the total supply chain cost by 2%. Researchers also recommend applying more climate-friendly technologies and focus-ing on developing new machines with lower fuel consumption and subsequent emissions. Future studies can focus on the following subjects; a) to determine the productivity and cost rates of various residue recovery systems, b) to develop and test technologies with lower fuel consumption rates and c) to find in-novative solutions to utilize thinning materials and best practices to store and process biomass materials.

Salvage logging is increasing in Central Europe because of the growth of severe meteorological events, and timber harvesting in these conditions is challenging in terms of both productivity performances and safety of the operations. In recent years, with the increase of natural calamities, several researchers studied machinery productivity performances regarding salvage logging carried out by ground-based systems. In fact, a common post-disturbance management approach is salvage logging which consists of the widespread removal of damaged trees. In this research, system productivity and the cost of salvage logging are analysed in European beech stands affected by wet snow. The accretion of heavy wet snow poses the greatest risk to forests in the Northern Hemisphere. This type of snow attaches more effectively to tree crowns and branches when temperatures are close to freezing at the time of precipitation. As a result, trees may break or bend and may be uprooted when the soil is unfrozen. This study has been implemented to evaluate the productivity and cost-effectiveness of extraction in salvage logging deployed with a skidder in beech stands affected by two different types of wet snow damage. The results show that the productivity of the four-wheel-drive cable skidder, despite operating in salvage cutting with a removal intensity of 10%, is 14.73 m3·SMH–1, similar to skidder performances in ‘ordinary’ cuttings. Skidder’s productive time was 86% of the scheduled time, whereas the delays were due to organisational reasons, mechanical delays, and adverse weather conditions. The mean travel speed of the cable skidder obtained in this study is close to the results obtained from other studies on similar machines. The costs per unit are lower than effective cost consumptions for the other cable skidders and agricultural tractors, adapted for skidding operated in hardwood salvage logging. Therefore, under the given conditions, the operation of the fourwheel-drive cable skidder is viable from a silvicultural, technical, and economic point of view in the salvage operation logging.

The US South harvests more than 200 million tonnes of timber annually, nearly all of which is transported from forests to mills by truck. Log truck fleets in the US South have been struggling with rising liability insurance premiums. The goal of this study was to compare crash rates and the condition of log trucks operating in the US South to log trucks operating in other US regions and trucks in other industries. A sample of inspection and crash data were collected from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Vehicle and driver out-of-service rates, vehicle defect rates, and crash rates among log truck fleets in the US South were compared to log trucks in other US regions and to 50 large non-log truck fleets. Crash rates among southern log truck fleets were 176% higher than log truck fleets in the Lake States and 48% higher than 50 large non-log truck fleets. Vehicle and driver out-of-service rates were similar among log truck fleets in each region (p > 0.25), but southern logging business fleets had higher vehicle out-of-service rates than 50 large non-log truck fleets (p = 0.02). Driver education, technology implementation, improved fleet maintenance practices, and weight limit parity on interstate highways may improve timber transportation safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: A better understanding of how individual animals use their habitat after disturbance can help optimise management practices for their conservation. Forestry is one such disturbance for koalas that operates under regulations based on best available information to minimise impacts. Aims: This study aimed to investigate tree use by koalas in a mosaic of young, regenerating trees after timber harvest and mature trees in adjacent exclusion zones. Methods: Tracking collars using very high frequency radio and Global Positioning System transmitters were used to track 10 koalas (five males, five females) across all seasons in three forests, 5–10 years after timber harvesting as regulated by practices current at that time. Tree use was compared to availability based on basal area in different parts of the forest. Key results: We tracked koalas to 429 day-trees and 70 night-trees during this time. Males and females displayed little difference in tree use. Blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis and turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera were the most commonly used species during the day, but blackbutt was ranked with the highest preference relative to tree availability. Tallowwood Eucalyptus microcorys was by far the most commonly used tree at night. Koalas used a broad range of tree sizes during the day and night, but most often used medium-sized trees, with preferences for a diameter of 30–60 cm (slightly smaller at night). Koalas used all topographic positions in the landscape, but more than half of the trees used were in lower topographic areas (gullies and lower slopes). Areas mapped as having previous heavy timber harvesting were the most used forest category, followed by riparian exclusion zones. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that koalas commonly used trees regenerating after harvest, although preferences for medium-sized trees and tallowwood as a night browse tree suggest current forestry regulations can be fine-tuned by retaining a greater proportion of these features. Implications: Because most trees were used only once, our results support the view and current practice of retaining habitat patches, such as exclusion zones and wildlife clumps (triggered by a koala habitat model), to provide a mix of species and size classes for both food and shelter. A review of tree size and species retention is recommended. A better understanding of habitat use by threatened species can help optimise management when habitats are disturbed. Koalas were radio-tracked 5–10 years after timber harvesting and a wide range of tree species, sizes and topographic positions were used. Koalas commonly used trees regenerating after timber harvest, although preferences for medium-sized trees, and tallowwood at night, provide guidance for fine-tuning existing regulations. Photograph by Bronwyn Ellis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many species, estimating density is challenging, but it is important for conservation planning and understanding the functional role of species. Bats play key ecological roles, yet little is known about their free‐ranging density. We used a long‐term banding study of four species caught in an extensively forested climate refuge and spatial capture–recapture models (SCR) to estimate density and its change over time. Between 1999 and 2020, there were 3671 captures of four bat species, which were all edge‐space foragers. Recaptures represented 16% (n = 587) of all captures, of which 89 were between‐trap‐cluster movements. Closed spatial mark–recapture models estimated plausible densities that varied with elevation. Preferred elevations differed between species, with density averaging 0.63 ha−1 for Vespadelus darlingtoni (high elevation), 0.43 ha−1 for V. pumilus (low elevation), 0.19 ha−1 for Chalinolobus morio (high elevation), and 0.08 ha−1 for V. regulus (high elevation). Overall, densities were higher than most previous published estimates for bats. Forest disturbance history (past timber harvesting) had no detectable effect on density. Density also varied substantially across years, and although annual maximum temperature and rainfall were not supported in models, some time periods showed an apparent relationship between density and annual rainfall (+ve) and/or annual maximum temperature (−ve). The most notable change was an increase in the density of V. pumilus after 2013, which tracked an increase in annual temperature at the site, reflecting a warming climate. Bat densities in forests outside of climate refugia are likely to be more sensitive to climate change, but more studies are needed in different habitats and continents and outside climate refugia to place the densities we estimated into a broader context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative influence of timber harvesting on the forest environment is reflected through damage to the residual trees, regeneration, and forest soil. Considering that skidding, a popular extraction method, can cause substantial and severe damage to the remaining stand, the aim of this research was to determine damage to residual trees during skidding by an LKT 81T cable skidder, including oxen bunching. The research was conducted in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, in an uneven-aged mixed fir (Abies alba Mill.) and spruce (Picea abies L.) forest with pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on limestone soils. Tree felling was conducted using a Husqvarna 372 XP chainsaw. Extraction operations caused damage to 6.31% of the residual trees in the stand. The most damage was "removed bark" (65.34%) and occurred on the lower parts of the tree, the butt end (55.11%) and root collar (32.39%). The average size of the damage was 197.08 cm2. A statistically significant correlation was found between the damage position and the diameter at the breast height (p < 0.05) and the damage position and damage size (p < 0.01) by Spearman correlation analysis. The conducted analysis by the chi-squared test showed that there is a statistically significant difference in the proportion of damage for trees with different distances to the nearest skid road (p = 0.0487), but the share of damaged trees did not decrease by increasing the distance from the skid road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive forest harvesting within the southeastern United States may disturb soils, accelerate erosion, and increase stream sedimentation. Soil erosion is often accelerated by access features, such as decks, roads, skid trails, and stream crossings. Area of access features have been reported for small samples within specific regions yet have not been examined at larger scales. Areas of haul roads, stream crossings, decks, skid trails, and harvest areas within 112 clearcuts in 11 southeastern states and three regions (Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain) were measured. Analyses revealed that Mountain harvests (13.6 hectares) were smaller than Piedmont (18.1 hectares) and Coastal Plain (16.7 hectares) harvests. While there was substantial variability, only one significant difference was detected regarding percent areas for access features between Mountain (7.8%) and Coastal Plain (6.3%) skid trails. Area percentages in combined regional access features revealed that the smaller Mountain harvests had a greater percentage of area (13.3%) in access features than in the Piedmont (12.2%) and Coastal Plain (10.3%). Analyses also indicated that an increase in total harvest area was associated with a significant decrease in the percent area occupied by access features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood harvesting is a crucial element of sustainable forest management. Harvesting of wood and non-wood forest products has gained importance for increasing environmental services, economic development and sustainability of forests. The aim of this study was to reveal the efficiency values of regional forest directorates (RFD) for wood harvesting between 2015 and 2020 in Turkey using six input and two output variables. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and k-means clustering analysis were used. From the results obtained, 35.7% of the 28 RFDs were efficient using the results of the input- and output-oriented Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) model. In the input-oriented CCR model, for inefficient decision-making units (DMUs) to become efficient, on average the variable that needs to be reduced the most is forest area, and the variable that needs to be reduced the least is allowable cutting. Conversely, in the output-oriented CCR model, an average potential increase of 23.84% in the harvest of industrial wood, and of 29.48% for fuelwood, was determined for the inefficient DMUs. In addition, according to the results of the k-means cluster analysis, it was found that the DMUs in the cluster distribution of inefficient DMUs were similar to each other in terms of location. It will make a positive contribution for inefficient DMUs to consider the efficient DMUs shown as references to reach the targeted input/output values to become efficient. In addition, the results of this study are important for enabling forest managers to make performance evaluations based on efficiency analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green contracting mechanisms are utilized to integrate sustainable and environmentally protective goals into business objectives. This study proposes a framework for the design of green contract mechanisms in forestry supply chain management. We assumed that there was an applicant for harvesting timber in a forest, and that the owner tried to evaluate different scenarios to design a green contracting mechanism. We also assumed that the owner of a forest cared about green goals, such as carbon dioxide absorption, in the forest. We regarded the interests of the parties, such as the profit of the applicant as well as the green goals of the forest owner. We used multi-attribute decision-making techniques such as the weighted sum, normalized weighted sum, TOPSIS, and VIKOR to evaluate the various scenarios. In the literature, another approach was taken to solve a similar problem based on multi-objective techniques and the Pareto optimality concept. We compared the outcomes of the determined framework with the outputs of the previously employed methods. The recommended framework can provide more interpretable results since it considers the interests of different sides. The framework can assist businesses in designing contracts that promote sustainable operations and support compliance with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, logging in the world's largest tropical forest, located within the Amazon biome, continues unabated. Although it is a preferred alternative to deforestation, the residual stand and site are impacted by logging. The objective of this review was to determine and assess the current state of research throughout Amazonia on the subject of logging impacts. To achieve this goal, a systematic approach was utilized to gather, assess and categorize research articles conducted in the Amazon biome over the last decade. Eligibility for inclusion of articles required demonstration of a direct impact from logging operations. A total of 121 articles were determined to meet the eligibility requirements and were included in this review. Articles were subdivided into three environmental categories: forest (n = 85), wildlife (n = 24) and streams (n = 12). The results of this review demonstrated that impacts from logging activities to the forest site were a direct result of the logging cycle (e.g., how often logging occurs) or logging intensity (e.g., how many trees are felled). The impacts to wildlife varied dependent on species, whereas impacts to streams were affected more by the logging system. Overall, research suggested that to attain sustainability and diminish the impacts from logging, a lower logging intensity of 10–15 m3 ha−1 and a longer logging cycle of 40–60 years would be essential for the long-term viability of forest management in Amazonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree felling and processing can create harvesting residues including leaves and twigs (needles), cones, barks, and branches. Collecting forest harvesting residues requires application of suitable machines and working methods. This article is aimed at reviewing the published reports to identify new harvesting machines and working methods for recovering harvesting residues and the current gaps. The scope of review included published research reports/articles from 2017 to 2022 (last five years). This global review results showed that popular methods for residue collection are chipping residues at roadside/landing and integrated biomass recovery. Forwarder, cable yarder and in-field chipper are predominantly applied within various recovery methods depending on ground and stand conditions. Harvesting residues are one of the promising sources for bioenergy production which requires developing efficient and low-cost harvesting systems. Latest research findings indicate that piling harvesting residues by a harvester-processor can improve the collecting productivity by the forwarder within cut-to-length harvesting operations. Integrating residue biomass recovery with conventional timber supply can reduce the total supply chain cost by 2%. Researchers also recommend applying more climate-friendly technologies and focusing on developing new machines with lower fuel consumption and subsequent emissions. Future studies can focus on the following subjects; a) to determine the productivity and cost rates of various residue recovery systems, b) to develop and test technologies with lower fuel consumption rates and c) to find innovative solutions to utilize thinning materials and best practices to store and process biomass materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cable-based technologies are the backbone of timber harvesting on steep slopes. To simplify the cable road design process, the QGIS plugin Seilaplan was recently developed. Seilaplan is tailored for Central European cable yarder technology, with standing skylines. To analyze and predict the load path and occurring forces, the close-to-catenary Zweifel approach is implemented in Seilaplan. The aim of this study was to validate the catenary analyses (deflection and skyline tensile force) under realistic, heavy load conditions for multi-span cable roads. The main finding is that sufficient accuracy, for practical applications under real loading configurations and cable road settings, can be achieved by applying the Zweifel approach. This holds for both the predicted static skyline tensile force, for which a deviation of −3.5 % to +12.7 % was measured (root mean square error [RMSE] = 7 kN), and for the deflection, which deviated from measured values by −0.73 m to +0.9 m (RMSE = 0.5 m). A slight limitation of the implemented Zweifel approach is the missing aspect of the mainline loading, in particular for steep spans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm tractors have been applied in forest operations to carry out several tasks such as tree/felling/process-ing, forwarding, loading, skidding and cable yarding. Farm tractors can be equipped with special logging equipment that allows for their safe and efficient work in the harvesting of forest stands. This research is aimed to collect and review available literary sources on the productivity of farm tractors during skidding operations. The study results showed that work productivity of farm tractors for timber skidding has been studied by several researchers around the world. According to the results, the reported work productivity of skidding with farm tractors varied from 1.2 m3/PMH0 to 15.8 m3/PMH0 among international studies. Main variables impacting the work productivity of skidding included skidding distance, load volume, number of pieces per turn, tree diameter, tree length, slope of skid trails and engine power. Proper skid trail planning, applying suitable skidding equipment (e.g. winches, sulkies etc.), considering suitable engine size and prop-er safety standards can all help improving the work efficiency of the farm tractors during timber extracting. The information provided in this research can help the forest industry users and researchers gain proper knowledge on the work productivity of farm tractors applied for timber skidding. The study results can be also useful for planning and development purposes within small-scale forest operations.

Despite the high ecological value of Mediterranean beech forests, very little is known about the implications of forest operations on soil microarthropod biodiversity and litter decomposition rate. There is also no information concerning the amount of time needed for disturbed forest soil to recover and return to the pre-harvesting conditions. Silvicultural treatments are scheduled about every ten to fifteen years, without taking into account the amount of time necessary for recovery. The purpose of this study was to determine this information. The study started by selecting three study sites located along the Italian Apennine, each including a chronosequence of three forest parcels: one harvested in 2021, one harvested in 2012, and a control parcel which had not been harvested within the last forty years. In the harvested parcels we investigated skid trails which are classified as disturbed, and soil not affected by the passage of a machine which is classified as undisturbed. Thus in each study area there were five experimental treatments including the control area. The soil physico-chemical properties were assessed for each treatment. These included bulk density, penetration resistance, shear resistance, organic matter content, and soil microarthropod biodiversity which was assessed by the QBS-ar index (Soil Biological Quality based on microarthropods, a qualitative index measuring the quality of soil according to the biodiversity of the microarthropod community). We further established a litter decomposition experiment, using teabags as reference material, to check the differences among treatments in litter decomposition rates. We used linear mixed-effects models to investigate the effects of the experimental treatment on the physico-chemical and biological features, and relationships among QBS-ar index and soil physico-chemical features. We analysed the effects of the experimental treatment on the litter decomposition rate using generalised linear-mixed effects models. A significant effect caused by machine passage was found in the recently harvested parcels on soil penetration resistance (∼+70 % comparing to the control), shear resistance (∼+35 %), and QBS-ar index (-25 %). Effects of machine passage on soil bulk density and organic matter content were not significant. All the investigated variables in the skid trails returned to values similar to those recorded in the control after ten years. We did not find effects of any soil physico-chemical features on QBS-ar index. Finally, no effect of the experimental treatment was found on the litter decomposition rate, suggesting that a stronger magnitude of soil disturbance is needed to affect this complex biogeochemical process. Although the initial impact was highly significant, it was found that a 10-year period is sufficient for recovering the investigated soil features in the upper soil layer. This was observed in Mediterranean beech forests when forest operations were done with low-weight machines and a limited number of machine passes on the skid trails. Thus, it can be concluded that planning another operation 10–15 years after the previous thinning, as is currently done, remains in line with the time needed for the forest soil to recover. • We assessed the effects of logging on soil physico-chemical and biological features. • We found a significant increase of soil penetration resistance and shear resistance in the skid trails. • We found a significant decrease in soil microarthropod biodiversity in the skid trails. • We did not find any alteration of soil organic matter or litter decomposition rate. • A 10-year period was enough to restore all the altered soil features in the skid trails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many boreal populations of woodland caribou in Canada are declining, mainly due to the prevalence of anthropogenic disturbances which alter predator-prey dynamics. Climate change is expected to exert an additional negative influence on caribou populations in coming decades, but it is unclear whether or how human activities and climate change will interact to influence habitat suitability for caribou, and how important these agents of change will be relative to each other. In this study, we used the LANDIS-II forest landscape model to forecast boreal caribou habitat suitability across its distribution within the harvestable boreal forest in Québec for the period 2020–2100, under three increasing anthropogenic radiative forcing scenarios (baseline, Representative Concentration Pathways [RCP] 4.5 and 8.5), and two contrasting harvest scenarios (with and without harvest). Our simulations revealed that harvesting was the dominant agent explaining future variations in caribou habitat suitability, although climate change also decreased habitat suitability, especially under RCP 8.5. Climate-induced decreases in habitat suitability mostly originated from increases in wildfires that burned mature conifer-dominated forests, i.e., high-quality habitat for caribou. Habitat suitability by 2100 was also predicted to vary spatially, with the northeastern and northwestern parts of the study area supporting better caribou habitat conditions regardless of scenarios. We show that reducing harvest activities in areas where habitat suitability is currently high could help maintain high-quality caribou habitat even under the most intense climate change scenario. Our results also suggest that highly-disturbed regions which currently provide low-quality habitat may not improve in the future unless active habitat restoration is performed. Our study helps disentangle the potential future effects of forest management and climate change as threats to caribou habitat, emphasizing the urgency of reconciling forest management with the conservation of this species at risk in Canada.

Kegiatan pemanenan kayu memberikan kontribusi yang sangat besar terhadap produksi kayu. Pohon produksi yang berada di dalam hutan tidak dapat dimanfaatkan jika tidak ditebang dan tidak dikeluarkan dari dalam hutan. Metode penelitian ini adalah membuat 6 plot contoh pengamatan (PCP) masing-masing 3 PCP untuk teknik perbaikan (TP) dan 3 PCP untuk teknik konvensional (TK) pada satu petak tebang, melakukan penebangan pohon dan penyaradan dengan TP dan TK, melakukan pengamatan dan pengukuran produktivitas pemanenan kayu dan luas areal hutan yang terbuka akibat penebangan dan penyaradan serta menganalisis pengaruh kedua teknik terhadap produktivitas areal hutan terbuka dengan uji t. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh dua teknik pemanenan kayu terhadap produktivitas dan areal hutan terbuka. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa : 1) Rata-rata produktivitas penebangan dengan TK dan TP masing-masing adalah 10,60 m3/jam dan 13,95 m3/jam 2) Rata-rata produktivitas penyaradan dengan TK dan TP masing-masing adalah 7,25 m3/jam dan 9,60 m3/jam; 3) Rata-rata areal hutan terbuka akibat penebangan dengan TK dan TP masing-masing adalah 15,67% dan 7,43% ; 4) Rata-rata areal hutan terbuka akibat penyaradan dengan TK dan TP masing-masing adalah 10,50% dan 6,68%. Menerapkan teknik perbaikan dapat mengurangi terjadinya keterbukaan hutan pada penebangan dan penyaradan masing-masing sebesar 8,24% dan 3,82%. ABSTRACT Timber harvesting provides a very large contribution to timber production. Tree production that is in the forest can't be used if they are not felling and removed from the forest. This research method is to make 6 sample observation plot (SOP) each 3 SOP for improving technique (IT) and 3 SOP for conventional technique (CT) on one logging compartment, do felling and skidding by IT and CT, make observations, and measuring the productivity of timber harvesting and the area of open forest due to felling and skidding and analyzing the effect of the two techniques on the productivity of the open forest area with t-test. The research objective was to determine the effect of two timber harvesting techniques on productivity and open forest areas. The results showed that the average productivity of felling by CT and IT was 10.60 m3/hour and 13.95 m3/hour respectively. The average productivity of skidding by CT and IT was 7.25 m3/hour and 9.60 m3/hour respectively. The average open forest area due to felling by CT and IT was 15.6% and 7.43% respectively. The average open forest area due to skidding by CT and IT was 10.50% and 6.68% respectively. Applying improve technique reduced the open forest area through felling and skidding by 8.24% and 3.82% respectively.

Mammalian mesopredators—mid‐sized carnivores—are ecologically, economically, and socially important. With their adaptability to a variety of habitats and diets, loss of apex predators, and forest regrowth, many of these species are increasing in number throughout the northeastern United States. However, currently the region is seeing extensive landscape alterations, with an increase in residential and industrial development, especially at the expense of existing forest and small‐scale farmland. We sought to understand how important an existing mosaic of working lands (timberland and farmland) in a forested landscape is to mesopredator species. We did this by studying mesopredator occupancy across three land uses (or habitat types): forest reserve (protected), timber harvest (shelterwood cuts), and field (both crop yielding and fallow) in and around a 3200‐ha forest in northeastern Connecticut. We examined coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), fisher (Pekania pennanti), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) occupancy using paired camera traps across juxtaposed reserve, shelterwood, and field units from April 2018 to March 2019. We created a priori habitat variable models for each species and season, as well as analyzed the impact of habitat types on each species. Throughout the year bobcats were positively associated with foliage height diversity and had the highest use in shelterwoods and lowest use in fields. Land use utilization varied seasonally for coyotes and raccoons, with higher use of fields than reserves and shelterwoods for half the year and no difference between land uses and the other half. Both species were not strongly associated with any particular habitat variables. Reserve forest was moderate to highly used by all species for at least half the year, and highly use year‐round by fishers. Our findings reveal that a mosaic of intact forest and working lands, timber harvest, and agriculture can support mesopredator diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation and sustainable management of forests across ownership groups of the conterminous USA was assessed using the Montréal Process Criteria and Indicators (C&I) framework using national forest inventory and other data. Sixty-one percent of the forest area in the USA is Privately owned (20% Corporate, 39% Family, and 2% Other Private), 37% is Public (28% Federal, 2% Local, and 7% State), and 2% is within Native American Tribal Reservation boundaries. There are many commonalities across ownership categories, but there are also important differences. A 1.1 million ha yr−1 decrease in Family forestland and a 1.0 million ha yr−1 increase in Corporate forestland (C&I 1.1.a) between 2012 and 2019 are among the main trends with implications for sustainability and influence all other aspects considered through the C&I. The majority of annual timber harvests (C&I 2.d) comes from Corporate (46%) and Family (42%) forestlands. Of the most common species, net growth to removal ratios (C&I 2.d) are less than 1.0 for three species on Tribal forestland, two species on Federal forestlands, and two species on Corporate forestlands. Disturbances (C&I 3.a and 3.b) are relatively common (ranging from 4 to 15% of forestland within an ownership category) across ownership categories with the highest proportion of disturbances being caused by diseases and pests on Federal forestland. Differences in the legal and institutional frameworks across ownership categories (Criterion 7) influence how the forest resources can be managed and how policies, programs, and services can be designed and implemented to help maintain and enhance the flow of forest-based goods and services. This analysis helps illustrate that sustainability is complex, C&I are imperfect, and there are additional elements, such as recreational access and ownership/management objectives, that would be helpful for comparing across ownership categories. But the Montréal Process C&I framework helps elucidate the relative threats among ownership categories, in particular the loss of Family forestland to non-forest uses and the increase in disturbances across most ownership categories, and the relative opportunities across ownership categories, including the sustainable supply of timber from Corporate and Family forestlands and the relatively high tree, and presumably broader, biodiversity especially on Local and Other Private forestlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to reveal the weight values of the criteria that are effective in selecting the most suitable vehicle types in forest products transportation by using hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method. According to different scenarios, the goal is to determine which vehicle alternative is the most suitable in given conditions. In the results obtained from the study, it is determined that the most important main criterion in determining the eligibility of vehicle alternatives in forest products transport is the environmental damage criterion, while the other main criteria are cost and operational performance, in order of importance. In the scope of the study, transportation scenarios including different operational conditions were created and the suitability of vehicle alternatives was evaluated according to the scenarios, taking into account CO2 emission and road surface damage risk criteria. Transportation of coniferous and broadleaved tree species makes a difference in vehicle suitability rankings according to transportation scenarios. In addition, it was observed that the variability in the amount of roundwoods to be transported affects the vehicle suitability rankings. It will be beneficial to consider the total weight of the forest product to be transported and the tree species in the selection vehicle type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mammalian mesopredators—mid‐sized carnivores—are ecologically, economically, and socially important. With their adaptability to a variety of habitats and diets, loss of apex predators, and forest regrowth, many of these species are increasing in number throughout the northeastern United States. However, currently the region is seeing extensive landscape alterations, with an increase in residential and industrial development, especially at the expense of existing forest and small‐scale farmland. We sought to understand how important an existing mosaic of working lands (timberland and farmland) in a forested landscape is to mesopredator species. We did this by studying mesopredator occupancy across three land uses (or habitat types): forest reserve (protected), timber harvest (shelterwood cuts), and field (both crop yielding and fallow) in and around a 3200‐ha forest in northeastern Connecticut. We examined coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), fisher (Pekania pennanti), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) occupancy using paired camera traps across juxtaposed reserve, shelterwood, and field units from April 2018 to March 2019. We created a priori habitat variable models for each species and season, as well as analyzed the impact of habitat types on each species. Throughout the year bobcats were positively associated with foliage height diversity and had the highest use in shelterwoods and lowest use in fields. Land use utilization varied seasonally for coyotes and raccoons, with higher use of fields than reserves and shelterwoods for half the year and no difference between land uses and the other half. Both species were not strongly associated with any particular habitat variables. Reserve forest was moderate to highly used by all species for at least half the year, and highly use year‐round by fishers. Our findings reveal that a mosaic of intact forest and working lands, timber harvest, and agriculture can support mesopredator diversity.

The negative influence of timber harvesting on the forest environment is reflected through damage to the residual trees, regeneration, and forest soil. Considering that skidding, a popular extraction method, can cause substantial and severe damage to the remaining stand, the aim of this research was to determine damage to residual trees during skidding by an LKT 81T cable skidder, including oxen bunching. The research was conducted in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, in an uneven-aged mixed fir (Abies alba Mill.) and spruce (Picea abies L.) forest with pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on limestone soils. Tree felling was conducted using a Husqvarna 372 XP chainsaw. Extraction operations caused damage to 6.31% of the residual trees in the stand. The most damage was “removed bark” (65.34%) and occurred on the lower parts of the tree, the butt end (55.11%) and root collar (32.39%). The average size of the damage was 197.08 cm2. A statistically significant correlation was found between the damage position and the diameter at the breast height (p < 0.05) and the damage position and damage size (p < 0.01) by Spearman correlation analysis. The conducted analysis by the chi-squared test showed that there is a statistically significant difference in the proportion of damage for trees with different distances to the nearest skid road (p = 0.0487), but the share of damaged trees did not decrease by increasing the distance from the skid road.

The forestry industry poses a higher risk of occupational accidents than other sectors, and understanding the occurrence and characteristics of injuries and fatalities is crucial for improving the safety and health of workers and establishing future strategies. In South Korea, although occupational injuries have declined since 2010, the number of occupational accidents in forestry remains higher than that in other sectors. Occupational injuries and fatalities present considerable challenges, and thus, our objective was to analyze and compare forestry accidents between 2010 and 2020. The results indicate that the highest average number of injuries occurred among workers older than 51 years and those with less than 6 months of experience. Timber harvesting and silviculture are among the most dangerous operations in forestry. Based on the analyzed dataset, amputation and laceration injuries, as well as slip and trip injuries, were the most common, accounting for 29.2% and 22.3% of total annual occupational accidents, respectively. These results may be explained by the labor-intensive, steep terrain operations in forestry. Our findings represent an essential resource for improving worker safety and health.

Wood and charcoal were key sources of energy during early industrialization in Europe (18th century), preceding the large-scale exploitation of fossil coal. Past timber harvesting implied land transformation and woodland resources management. Therefore, relict charcoal kilns and historical documents of forest management are important sources of information about past woodland composition and structure. However, ancient charcoal kilns are poorly documented in temperate woodlands in the lowlands of western Europe, especially combined with historical written sources. In this study, charcoal production was investigated in an area in NE France, by combining charcoal and historical sources analysis, along with innovative dating methodologies. Thus, by using both radiocarbon and optically-stimulated luminescence dating, we showed that the activity lasted until recent times (19th–early 20th centuries) and Carpinus was the dominant taxon in charcoal assemblage. Moreover, kiln attributes seemed to be independent of topographical variables. Woodlands in this area were subject to a coppice-with-standards management, where small diameter wood was preferred to produce charcoal and large diameter stems, mainly Quercus and Fagus, were traded as timber. The dominance of Carpinus is rather uncommon in charcoal studies but supports the importance of Carpinus as fuelwood since the Middle Ages, as confirmed by many written sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forests where the overstorey canopy has been disturbed by timber harvest or other means, evapotranspiration (ET) by the understorey may be the main flux of water back to the atmosphere. However, little research has been apportioned to directly measuring understorey water use, and the technology to do so is thus limited. Here, we used a portable chamber to quickly and directly measure understorey ET by measuring the water flux from the soil and vegetation enclosed by the chamber. This method was used in a third‐growth coast redwood forest to measure ET rates from individuals of five species commonly found in the understorey: Sequoia sempervirens (coast redwood) sprouts, Notholithocarpus densiflorus (tanoak) sprouts, Vaccinium ovatum (evergreen huckleberry) sprouts, Polystichum munitum (sword fern) and Struthiopteris spicant (deer fern). Measurements were conducted in four small watersheds which were harvested to varying intensities ranging from 0% to 75% targeted reduction in preharvest overstory basal area. Mean understorey ET rate was highest in the watershed with the lowest residual basal area (x̅ = 0.036 ± 0.024 mm/h) and lowest in the unharvested control watershed (x̅ = 0.013 ± 0.0078 mm/h). Multiple regression modelling on resprouting species indicated that the difference in ET rate between watersheds was related to soil and light resources. These results imply that understorey water use can be significant, particularly in harvested watersheds, and should be quantified at the landscape scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the full-tree system, one of the self-propelled forest machines used is the grapple saw, which uses mechanical force to delimbing and crosscutting stems, commonly in processing yards or on the sides of forest roads. Thus, several factors can influence the machine's effective productivity, and consequently, the production costs. Hence, the objective was to analyze the influence of the slope of the land on the productivity and production costs of the grapple saw under different operational conditions. The study was carried out in a forested area, in which there were clonal forests of Eucalyptus urograndis. The processing felled trees operation was performed with a grapple saw capable of accumulating and cutting the 0.85 m² tree bundles in two operating conditions. For the production forecast, the time study was applied, associating it to the volume of drawn wood and the effective work time, accordingly, it was possible to estimate the production cost of the grapple saw. The results allowed to conclude that the effective hourly productivity and the production cost of the log tracing are associated with the slope of the land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm tractors have been applied in forest operations to carry out several tasks such as tree/felling/processing, forwarding, loading, skidding and cable yarding. Farm tractors can be equipped with special logging equipment that allows for their safe and efficient work in the harvesting of forest stands. This research is aimed to collect and review available literary sources on the productivity of farm tractors during skidding operations. The study results showed that work productivity of farm tractors for timber skidding has been studied by several researchers around the world. According to the results, the reported work productivity of skidding with farm tractors varied from 1.2 m³/PMH0 to 15.8 m³/PMH0 among international studies. Main variables impacting the work productivity of skidding included skidding distance, load volume, number of pieces per turn, tree diameter, tree length, slope of skid trails and engine power. Proper skid trail planning, applying suitable skidding equipment (e.g. winches, sulkies etc.), considering suitable engine size and proper safety standards can all help improving the work efficiency of the farm tractors during timber extracting. The information provided in this research can help the forest industry users and researchers gain proper knowledge on the work productivity of farm tractors applied for timber skidding. The study results can be also useful for planning and development purposes within small-scale forest operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountainous hardwood mixed stands offer challenges to timber harvesting operations in practice, including a harsh climate, variable topography, steep terrain, and large-sized timbers. This paper aims to develop productivity and cost models for a mountain-ground-based harvesting operation across the terrain (e.g., slope conditions), stand (e.g., tree volume) environmental (e.g., weather), and yard (e.g., winching distance) variables and to assess GHG emissions related to the equipment in use. This development was implemented in a timber harvesting practice under single-tree selection in mountainous forests of Iran where a motor-manual chainsaw is used for felling and a rubber-tired cable skidder is used for log extraction. The average delay-free productivity was 4.55 m3 for felling and 14.73 m3 h−1 for skidding. Lower production costs and higher productivity rates were observed over the gentle slopes and in sunny conditions. The average production costs ranged between USD 4.27 m−3 for felling and USD 5.35 m−3 for skidding. The average emissions ranged between 0.96 kg m−3 for felling and 7.06 kg m−3 for skidding in snowy conditions over steep slopes. The study’s results confirm avoiding harvesting operations on steep slopes (greater than 35%) and in extreme weather conditions to obtain higher work efficiency and to minimize adverse effects of machinery on forest ecosystems. The results should be of use to harvest managers and forest planners considering the application of ground-based harvesting operations using a semi-mechanized system on a range of operating conditions in mountain hardwood stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ergonomic evaluations of forest machines are carried out in isolation due to the lack of an adequate method that makes it possible to correlate the ergonomic variables simultaneously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ergonomic performance of certain forest machines by using the Integrated Ergonomic Indicator (IEI), capable of correlating ergonomic variables simultaneously. Vibration, noise, heat, illuminance, posture, repeatability, visibility and productivity were obtained from a feller buncher, harvester, forwarder, skidder and processor machines in two work shifts with 24 operators. The ergonomic data were subjected to cluster analysis and standardized by their deviations from the average, being subjected to multivariate factor analysis to determine influencing factors in the composition of the IEI. The indicator for each factor was multiplied by the variance explained for each factor, with the result divided by the total explained variance. The values remained around 0 and the higher the result, the worse the ergonomic condition. The results showed that the variables that most negatively influenced the machines were vibration, noise and lateral visibility which were related to each other. The worst machine under the ergonomic aspect was the skidder, with an IEI of 2.82 and 1.60 for day and night shifts, respectively, caused by shocks and bumps in the work route, and also due to the operators spending a long time with their neck rotated. The best machines were the 8×8 harvester and the forest processor at night, with an IEI of −1.36 and −0.96, caused by vibration, noise and neck with little rotational deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Every year, logging in the world’s largest tropical forest, located within the Amazon biome, continues unabated. Although it is a preferred alternative to deforestation, the residual stand and site are impacted by logging. The objective of this review was to determine and assess the current state of research throughout Amazonia on the subject of logging impacts. To achieve this goal, a systematic approach was utilized to gather, assess and categorize research articles conducted in the Amazon biome over the last decade. Eligibility for inclusion of articles required demonstration of a direct impact from logging operations. A total of 121 articles were determined to meet the eligibility requirements and were included in this review. Articles were subdivided into three environmental categories: forest (n = 85), wildlife (n = 24) and streams (n = 12). The results of this review demonstrated that impacts from logging activities to the forest site were a direct result of the logging cycle (e.g., how often logging occurs) or logging intensity (e.g., how many trees are felled). The impacts to wildlife varied dependent on species, whereas impacts to streams were affected more by the logging system. Overall, research suggested that to attain sustainability and diminish the impacts from logging, a lower logging intensity of 10–15 m3 ha−1 and a longer logging cycle of 40–60 years would be essential for the long-term viability of forest management in Amazonia.

Studies of forest clear‐felling operations in 1995–97 in the Afon Tanllwyth sub‐catchment of the upper River Severn on Plynlimon, mid‐Wales, by Stott et al. (Journal of Environmental Management (2001), 63, 3), indicated elevated suspended sediment loads (SSLs) immediately following timber harvesting. UK Forestry Commission (1993) Forests and Water Guidelines recommended that riparian buffer zones adjacent to streams were left unplanted. This study 20 years on assessed the SSLs at the same point in the Afon Tanllwyth for 21 months between January 2017 and September 2018. While SSLs reported by Stott et al. (Journal of Environmental Management (2001), 63, 3). increased during and after the clear‐felling operations, by 2017–18 (20 years later) they appear to have recovered to levels similar to those measured pre‐clear‐felling (1995), despite this study taking place only a few months after approximately 3 ha of mature forest was clear‐felled on the north side of the catchment. Although the mean monthly SSL for 2017–18 of 1628 ± 95 kg is slightly lower than the 1,800 ± 176 kg reported for 1995, the difference is not significant. When SSL is corrected for differences in total monthly flow the flow adjusted SSLs are 1,346 ± 132 kg for 1995 and 945 ± 55 kg for 2017–18, thus significantly lower in 2017–18. These new data for 2017–18 indicate that SSLs seem to have recovered to levels significantly below those measured and reported by Stott et al. (Journal of Environmental Management (2001), 63, 3–25) in 1995 pre‐clear‐felling period, likely as a result of the establishment of the 50 m buffer zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Forest harvest practices have the potential to alter habitat available to forest fauna. One aspect of harvesting practice that has received little research attention is the effect of multiple rotations on available habitat, and its use by fauna. Aims: We examined one component of habitat that is critical to many taxa, coarse woody debris (CWD). In forests of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, we aimed to assess whether harvest (moderate intensity for saw-logs) frequency influences CWD levels, and whether fauna activity on CWD varies with harvest frequency and with CWD attributes. Methods: Using habitat surveys and camera trapping, we compared CWD quantity and quality in unharvested sites with those that had been harvested once, twice and three times, and assessed fauna use of CWD. Key results: We found significantly greater volume of non-hollow CWD, and of medium-sized pieces (15–30 cm diameter), in sites harvested three times versus unharvested sites. Camera trapping showed that the activity and composition of fauna were similar across these harvest treatments. Our results also found that a broad range of fauna used a variety of logs, including large and small logs in various states of decay. Conclusions: Consistent with other Australian studies, our results suggested that there are no detectable impacts of harvesting on hollow or large CWD. Further studies using radio-tracking or similar methods are needed to more comprehensively assess how CWD is used by fauna. Implications: CWD was used broadly by a range of species and should be targeted for retention under ecologically sustainable forest management practices to ensure that it continues to be present in harvested landscapes. This is particularly important in places where an intensification of practices is being considered. Multiple rotations of timber harvesting affect coarse woody debris and use by fauna. We found significantly greater volume of medium-sized pieces in sites harvested three times versus unharvested sites. Camera trapping found that fauna used a variety of logs, including large and small logs in various states of decay. No relationships were found between fauna and frequency of timber harvesting. Photograph by Caragh Threlfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, low emission or zero-emission technologies have been applied to light and heavyduty vehicles by adopting electric propulsion systems and battery energy storage. Hybrid cable yarders and electrical slack-pulling carriages could represent an opportunity to increase the energy efficiency of forestry operations leading to lower impact timber harvesting and economic savings thanks to reduced fuel consumption. However, given the limited experience with hybrid-electric systems applied to cable yarding operations, these assumptions remain uncertain. This study assessed an uphill cable yarding operation using a hybrid cable yarder and an active slack-pulling electric power carriage over thirty working days. A total of 915 work cycles on four different cable lines were analysed. Longterm monitoring using Can-BUS data and direct field observations were used to evaluate the total energy efficiency, total energy efficiency (%), and fuel consumption per unit of timber extracted (L/m3). The use of the electric-hybrid system with a 700 V supercapacitor to store the recovered energy made it possible to reduce the running time of the engine by about 38% of the total working time. However, only 35% to 41% of the Diesel-based mechanical energy was consumed by the mainline and haulback winches. Indeed, the remaining energy was consumed by the other winches of the cable line system (skyline, strawline winches and carriage recharging or breaking during outhaul) or dissipated by the system (e.g., by the haulback blocks). With reference to all work cycles, the highest net energy consumption occurred during the inhaulunload work element with a maximum of 1.15 kWh, consuming 70% of total net energy consumption to complete a work cycle. In contrast, lower energy consumption was recorded for lateral skid and outhaul, recording a maximum of 23% and 32% of the total net energy consumption, respectively. The estimated recovered energy, on average between the four cable lines, was 2.56 kWh. Therefore, the reduced fuel need was assessed to be approximately 730 L of fuel in the 212.5 PMH15 of observation, for a total emissions reduction of 1907 kg CO2 eq, 2.08 kg CO2 eq for each work cycle.

Suitable habitats contain essential resources for individuals completing their life cycles. However, timber harvesting can alter habitat structure and affect animal habitat selection patterns. Several recent conservation initiatives conducive to the restoration of giant panda habitat, such as the National Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) in China, have been implemented. Relatively few studies have concentrated on the effects of the NFCP on habitat selection by giant pandas. Extensive datasets, collected from the 3rd (1999–2002) and 4th (2011–2014) national giant panda surveys in Sichuan province, China, were analysed to reveal responses in habitat selection by giant pandas with implementation of the NFCP. The results confirm that more, larger trees stood in original forests than in secondary forests. With the cessation of timber harvesting and implementation of NFCP, gentle sloping areas of secondary growth forests in mountainous ranges were again occupied by giant pandas during the 4th survey. Under the impacts of timber harvesting, there was a threshold effect of slope utilisation by the giant pandas. Based on comparisons of the variation in habitat selection from the 3rd to the 4th survey between the old-growth and secondary forests, more and more pandas have been migrating into the gentle slope areas of secondary growth forests during restoration of the pandas’ habitat. Whether the balance in migration patterns is or is not reached can be used as an evaluation criterion of restoring panda habitat to original forest. These results suggested a positive response by giant pandas to the NFCP based on slope utilisation in recent decades. However, more work also needs to focus on panda habitat restoration in secondary growth forest in future, such as strengthening habitat management policies, prolonging the NFCP, increasing investment in panda habitat restoration technology, and so forth.

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, low emission or zero-emission technologies have been applied to light and heavyduty vehicles by adopting electric propulsion systems and battery energy storage. Hybrid cable yarders and electrical slack-pulling carriages could represent an opportunity to increase the energy efficiency of forestry operations leading to lower impact timber harvesting and economic savings thanks to reduced fuel consumption. However, given the limited experience with hybrid-electric systems applied to cable yarding operations, these assumptions remain uncertain. This study assessed an uphill cable yarding operation using a hybrid cable yarder and an active slack-pulling electric power carriage over thirty working days. A total of 915 work cycles on four different cable lines were analysed. Longterm monitoring using Can-BUS data and direct field observations were used to evaluate the total energy efficiency, total energy efficiency (%), and fuel consumption per unit of timber extracted (L/m3). The use of the electric-hybrid system with a 700 V supercapacitor to store the recovered energy made it possible to reduce the running time of the engine by about 38% of the total working time. However, only 35% to 41% of the Diesel-based mechanical energy was consumed by the mainline and haulback winches. Indeed, the remaining energy was consumed by the other winches of the cable line system (skyline, strawline winches and carriage recharging or breaking during outhaul) or dissipated by the system (e.g., by the haulback blocks). With reference to all work cycles, the highest net energy consumption occurred during the inhaulunload work element with a maximum of 1.15 kWh, consuming 70% of total net energy consumption to complete a work cycle. In contrast, lower energy consumption was recorded for lateral skid and outhaul, recording a maximum of 23% and 32% of the total net energy consumption, respectively. The estimated recovered energy, on average between the four cable lines, was 2.56 kWh. Therefore, the reduced fuel need was assessed to be approximately 730 L of fuel in the 212.5 PMH15 of observation, for a total emissions reduction of 1907 kg CO2 eq, 2.08 kg CO2 eq for each work cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]