Economic analysis on log damage during logging operation in Caspian Forests

Abstract

Waste wood was studied in an economic enterprise by logging, function, tree species and log size in four Caspian hardwood sites. Damaged logs were recorded with additional information obtained for the location, dimensions and type of damage. The data were analyzed statistically to determine significant differences of damage during logging process. The results indicated that animal harvesting systems cause more volume (40.5% of log volume) and value loss (89.5 $·m−3) to logs than mechanized harvesting systems (13.9% and 6.0 $·m−3), also bucking resulted in significantly more volume (9.9% of log volume) and value loss (5.5 $·m−3) when compared to skidding (0.2% of log volume and 0.2 $·m−3), decking (0.4% of log volume and 0.2 $·m−3) and loading (0.2% of log’s volume and 0.3 $·m−3) operations. Study showed that the processes of skidding, decking and loading of logs have very little impact on damage levels. Volume and value losses of damaged logs are not sensitive to tree species and log size. The information from the field study is important in creating new guidelines or training to help minimize hardwood log damage during the timber harvesting process.