Forest harvesting is an important, ongoing disturbance that affects the composition, structure, and ecological function of the majority of the world’s forests. However, few studies have examined the interaction between land-use conversion and harvesting. We utilize a unique, spatially explicit database of all cutting events (n > 13,000) and land-cover conversions for Massachusetts over the past...

Heightened interest in renewable energy has produced a spate of new research into the feasibility of forest biomass as a feedstock. The US Northeast is one of the few regions worldwide that supports both a large forest resource and a relatively high population density and hence energy demand. This paper outlines economic, ecological, and social considerations that must be addressed in order to ...

The application of different modern logging systems depends on the silvicultural aims and methodologies. Depending upon these specifications the appropriate technique must be selected. This is the basic condition, which leads to a specific logging system in Central European and especially in German forestry. In the following an overview is to be given upon the different applications of full-mec...

Timber harvesting guidelines formulated for north Queensland rainforests allowed economically viable harvests with minimal ecological impact. Harvesting procedures sought to minimize soil erosion, silting and turbidity in steams, destruction of trees in the residual stand, and disruption of natural habitats and processes. Forest officers selected the trees to be harvested, indicated the directi...

assessment and management of the environmental impacts of forest harvesting operations have become increasingly critical factors in practicing commercial forestry. this study investigated soil disturbance from a forest logging system operation on an 8-hectare mixed broadleaved stand in compartment no. 309 in gorazbon district in kheyrud educational and research forest. the objective of this stu...

Recent legislation and energy prices have led to an increased need for alternative energy sources. Biomass, including forest residues, is expected to replace a part of the nation’s reliance on petroleum consumption. This paper provides an overview of existing literature related to the harvest, communition and transport of forest residues. Past studies have investigated the systems associated wi...

This study aims to investigate the possible effects of harvesting activities on litter decomposition in micro ecologic areas belonging to 3 different species (Trojan fir (Abies nordmanniana subsp. Equi-trojani (Aschers & Sint. ex. Boiss) Coode & Cullen), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller)). To this end, litter decomposition experiments were carried out ...

Information on the productivity, costs and applications of the logging system is a key component in the evaluation of management plans for the rehabilitation and utilization of Caspian forests. Skidding and road construction costs are expensive forest operations. Determining the optimum forest road network density is one of the most important factors in sustainable forest management. Logging me...

in forest harvesting, there is an ongoing trend to increase constantly the size, power and load of logging machines. this may cause soil degradation in forest ecosystems as the passes of these machines modify important soil structural characteristics. the present study was conducted to examine impact of skidding traffic, trail slope, traffic frequency, and soil depth on bulk density and soil co...

Abstract The aim of this research is to present a simulation model for reducing economic damages of mechanized wheat harvesting in the weather conditions of Khuzestan province and similar areas. The simulated model is composed of three sub-models, for determining of the appropriate working hours, grain losses, and economic sub-model. In order to determine the appropriate working hours, a mathem...