Reduced Impact Logging Road Issues in Tropical Forests

Abstract

Road design, construction, and maintenance practices need to be significantly improved in many logging operations being undertaken in tropical forests worldwide. Reduced impact logging is a program designed to achieve more cost-effective and sustainable logging practices through good stand inventories, sound silvicultural practices, less waste and damage in the operations, and replanting where necessary. The program also involves design and construction of improved logging roads. Many roads being constructed and used today are poorly built, poorly drained, and poorly maintained. Resulting impacts include unnecessarily high road costs, inefficient logging operations, and significant negative environmental impacts. Little consideration is given to long-term or full life-cycle costs of the roads. These are not new problems. The objectives of this paper are to identify ongoing common problems and recommend practical solutions, reiterate the need for good basic engineering practices, and highlight some of the negative impacts of poor engineering practices. Key problems that appear to cause unnecessarily high road costs and inefficient logging operations include inadequate road surface drainage, excessively wide roads and roads built under inconsistent design standards, inadequate use of available road surfacing materials, inadequate road maintenance, and poor road location and the subsequent need for road reconstruction. A variety of other road drainage, materials, and erosion control issues also need improving. Social and environmental issues related to roads and their access include colonization and development along the road corridor, illegal logging and subsequent deforestation, bush meat hunting and wildlife depletion, spread of diseases, and other land use changes. Road management and access control are needed along with improved design, construction, and maintenance practices.