Residual tree damage along skidding trails in beech stands in Greece

Abstract

We studied the damage caused to unfelled trees during skidding operations in four beech stands of northern and central Greece that were managed under differing harvesting systems. After timber was harvested we recorded and analyzed all damage to a width of 2 m along both sides of the skid trails. The percentage of damaged residual trees was 17–28 %. Higher numbers of saplings were uprooted or destroyed in parts of the stands with high natural regeneration. Most damaged trees suffered 1.33–1.90 wounds that were inflicted up to a height of 1 m above ground level. At all sites mean wound sizes were large, 89–1190 cm2, and caused elevated risk of future fungal infection. The damage caused by skidding during timber harvesting can be minimized by better planning the harvest operations, and training forest workers in reduced impact logging.