Abstract
Forest roads must be constructed according to the technical standards and guidelines published by the scientific organizations. The main aims of this research was to compare the standard clearing limit with existence status and assess the effects of the application of improper clearing limit on forest stock growth. In this research the standard design of clearing limit was determined based on soil texture and hillside gradient. Slope steepness map were obtained from DEM. 17 clearing limit samples were taken for each of the slope classes. The soil samples number were determined according to the length of roads which have passed from each slope classes. Results showed that the difference between the standard and existing clearing limit in secondary forest road was significantly higher than that in main forest road. Difference between stand volume decrease in standard and existing clearing limit in silt soil was significantly more than that in silt clay and clay soils. The difference between standard and existing clearing limit as well as the difference between standard and existing trees stock growth in different slope classes and soil sub-units was significant. Difference between stand volume increased significantly as difference between standard and existing clearing limit. Key words: Forest road, clearing limit, right-of-way, stock growth, standard design
Highlights
Forest roads are necessary for emergency forest management (Potočnik et al, 2008) like timber harvesting, recreation, fire control and etc
Sometimes the standard design cannot be useful for determining clearing limit of forest roads (Tunay and Melemez, 2004)
Soil texture along forest road were divided into three groups, clay, silty-clay and silty soils
Summary
Forest roads are necessary for emergency forest management (Potočnik et al, 2008) like timber harvesting, recreation, fire control and etc. During the construction project of a forest road, the standard design must be carried out on the ground to achieve the desired road with minimal impact on environment (Hosseini, 2010). Sometimes the standard design cannot be useful for determining clearing limit of forest roads (Tunay and Melemez, 2004). These standards are often ignored by executives. In some cases when the standard design of roads is considered, the vegetative characteristics of edge stands determine the real clearing limit of roads (Parsakhoo et al., 2009). When the planner and executors want to determine forest road right-of-way should attend to the natural condition
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