Optimal Forest Road Density Based on Skidding and Road Construction Costs in Iranian Caspian Forests

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 method is an important factor to determine the optimum road network density. In this research, in order to determine the optimum road network density, skidding cost and road construction cost were calculated. Linear programming model was used in order to reduce the skidding costs and to determine the optimal forest road network density. Our aim was to determine the minimum skidding cost for Timber Jack and Clark skidders for different average skidding distance. The results showed that it is less costly if Clark skidder is used for skidding. Then the optimal road network density at this manner was ۸ m/ha.   REFERENCES Akay, A. (۲۰۰۶) Minimizing total costs of forest roads with computer-aided design model. Academy Proceedings in Engineering Sciences. ۳۱: ۶۲۱–۶۳۳. Anderson, A.E and Nelson, J. ۲۰۰۴. Projecting Vector_based Road Networks with shortest Path Algorithm. Canadian J. For. Res., ۳۴: ۱۴۴۴-۱۴۵۷. Aruga, K. ۲۰۰۵. Tabu search optimization of horizontal and vertical alignments of forest roads. J. For. Res., ۱۰: ۲۷۵–۲۸۴. Bryer, J. B. ۱۹۸۳. The effects of a geometric redefinition of the classical road and landing spasing model through shifting. J. For. Sci., ۲۹: ۶۷۰-۶۷۴. Chung, W and Sessions. j. ۲۰۰۱. NETWORK ۲۰۰۱ – Transportation Planning Under Multiple Objectives. The International Mountain Logging and ۱۱th Pacific Northwest Skyline Symposium, pp: ۱۹۴-۲۰۰.  Coulter, E.D., sessions, J and Michaeal, G.W. ۲۰۰۶. Scheduling forest road maintenance using the analytic hierarchy process and heuristics. The Finnish Society of Forest Science. Silva Fennica ۴۰(۱). Demir, M and Tolga O. ۲۰۰۴. A research on forest road planning and projecting by inroads software in Bolu region of Turkey. American J. Appl. Sci. ۱: ۲۹۵-۳۰۱. Eghtesadi, A. ۱۹۹۱. Study method of wood extraction from forest to factory yard in Nekah Forest. M.Sc thesis, College of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran, ۱۴۴ p. Eghtesadi, A. ۲۰۰۸. Evaluation of wood productivity rate in primary and secondary transportation in Nekachub region. Iranian J. For. Poplar Res. ۱۶: ۲۷۴-۲۹۱. Eghtesadi, A. Sobhani, H. Rafatnia, N. (۲۰۰۲) Study of timber transportation in the Vaz research forest. Iranian J. Res. Const., ۱۲. ۲۳- ۳۴. FAO (۱۹۸۰) Planning forest roads and harvesting systems, FAO Forestry Paper, ۱۴۸ p. Favreau, J. and Gingras, F. (۱۹۹۸) An Analysis of Harvesting Costs in Eastern Canada. Special report, No. SR-۱۲۹, ۱۰ p. Ghaffarian, M.R. (۲۰۰۳) Examination of amount of damages to regeneration and soil due to transporting wood with traditional Method. M.Sc thesis, College of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran, ۱۰۹ p. Ghaffarian M.R. and Sobhani, H. (۲۰۰۸) Optimum road spacing of ground based skidding operations in Nowshahr, Iran, Caspian J. Env. Sci., ۶: ۱۰۵-۱۱۲. Ghaffarian, M.R and Sobhani. H. (۲۰۰۷) Optimization of an existing forest road network using Network ۲۰۰۰. Croatian J. For. Eng., ۲۸: ۲. Goulet, V. L. Sirois and Iff, H. (۱۹۷۹) A survey Optimal forest road density ۸۶ of timber harvesting simulation models for use in the South.USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report, SO-۲۵. Heinimann, H. R. (۱۹۹۷) A computer model to differentiate skider and cable-yarder based road network concepts on steep slopes. J. For. Res., ۳: ۱-۹. Heralt L. (۲۰۰۲) Using the ROADENG system to design an optimum forest road variant aimed at the minimization of negative impacts on the natural environment. J. For. Sci., ۴۸: ۳۶۱-۳۶۵. Ledoux, B. and Huyler, K. (۲۰۰۱) Cost comparisons for three hrvesting systems operating in Northern hardwood stands. USDA, Forest Service. Research paper NE-۷۱۵. Liu, S., Corcoran, T. J. (۱۹۹۳) Road and landing spacing under the consideration of surface dimension of road and landings. J. For. Eng., ۵: ۴۹-۵۳. Mostafanehad, A. (۱۹۹۵) Study of cost production of skidder Timberjack ۴۵۰C and optimal length of skid trails. Master Thesis., Tehran University, Faculty of Natural resources. Naghdi, R. (۲۰۰۴) Study of optimum road density in tree length and cut to length systems, PhD Dissertation, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tarbiat Modarres, Tehran, Iran, ۱۷۷ p.

Keywords:

Forest road network , Optimization modeling , Linear programming , Caspian forests