Mountain timber harvest management and scheduling is a complex, involves in handling multi-step process that determines economic as well as ecological services of forests over a relatively long period of time (Bettinger et al. 1997; Troncoso et al., 2011). Meanwhile, strategic and tactical decisions in forest planning have long-term consequences on the future development of forests ecosystem. The temporal and spatial configuration of desired forest activities have become increasing concern in tactical forest scheduling programs in the last yrs especially in mountain forested ecosystem. Recent interest in sustainable forest management planning along with economic constraints in forest operation activities has its origin in the beginning of the 20th century due to cascading depletion in natural resources and growing public awareness of climate change (Ogden and Innes, 2008; Bettinger et al., 2013). Certainly, mountain timber harvest scheduling such as landing configuration and machinery allocation, construction and running of forest roads network may be affecting by number of intuition ecological and environmental factors, accordingly. Therefore, much more attentions should be paid to consider these management prescriptions to lessen the ecological perspectives in long-term sustainable strategy of resource management over mountain forest ecosystems [].
A great deal of attention in the literatures has been given for synthesis timber harvest activities regarding to economic efficiently and received more critically to date (Lüthy, 1998; Lubello 2008; Kühmaier and Stampfer, 2010), while environmental perspectives of these activities may impose negative side-effects that revoke the economic advantages. Admittedly, changing in configu...
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... the literature reviews, little evidence exists of decision making optimization techniques in use at the mountain timber harvest planning for siting log-landing locations and harvesting systems allocation in particular, when problem striving towards multiple objectives simultaneously. The purpose of this research is presented a combinatorial quantitative approach based on a multi criteria decision making in conjunction with fuzzy spatial analysis called as (SFMCDM) to evaluate the potential of landscape for harvest activities in context of harvest feasibility zones (HFZ). Also the paper will be proceeding to literature reviews of studies carried that out in this area and allocating harvesting systems (HAS) and siting suitable zones for landing-locations (SLZ) based on breakthrough analyzing of terrain, stand and environmental conditions in mountain forested areas.
Sidney Investments, a firm based in Dallas, Texas, is considering the purchase of a 360 acre parcel of forested land located in the Quachita Mountains of eastern Oklahoma. This land has been under timber production through one rotation to this point. Sidney Investments would like to be advised on the possibilities of keeping that land in timber production and the operations necessary for the management of shortleaf pine. Sidney has come to Hall-Tree Silvicultural Consultants for a description of the silvicultural procedures involved, and the firm will then perform an economic analysis, checking the current market prices for the implementation of those procedures before making a decision on the purchase of this property.
The Logging Industry vs. The Old Growth Forests of the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Spotted Owl.
Management of a 40 Acre Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) Stand in Southern Michigan for Sustained Production of Sawtimber
When the "new" management took over Pacific Lumber the process of "selective cutting" was abandoned and "clear cutting" was adopted. Although "clear cutting" is a way to obtain so-called fast cash, it wa...
(Kumar et al., 2008a). Globally, 1.3 1010 metric tons of wood is produced by terrestrial
One of the most visible and mutual environmental impacts of ski areas on the environment is deforestation and grading of slopes. In order to service a multitude of winter sport enthusiast, mountain slopes must be cleared of dense forest in order to make way for ski runs and lifts. With the ski industry in the US showing steady numbers (Satistica) resorts have to come up with new attractions to keep past patrons and attract new customers. One of the ways that they do this is by opening up new terrain, which increases the amount of deforestation damaging the local vegetation. Ski resorts essentially have two options in creating new terrain. First clearing runs by removing trees and other woody vegetation, leaving the topsoil and seed bank intact or by grading slopes by using bulldozers to remove any abnormalities. The second method is preferred as it is faster and more efficient and allows for the slope to be opened earlier with less snow pact.(USA) The impacts of grading slopes by bulldozing destroy the vegetation, reduce the topsoil and greatly contribute to erosion. The removal of woody vegetation can also lead to a drastic change in the local vegetation in order to keep the trails clear it requires constant trimming of the new growth of unwanted vegetation that can help anchor topsoil in place and provide better growing conditions for other plants. The destructive method of bulldozing runs not only leads to environmental degradation but also can be counter productive. According to a UC Davis study, while clearing slopes of vegetation and irregularities by bulldozer might result in opening earlier than other resorts the increase in maintenance, will likely offset any monetary gains (USA).
The efforts required by reforestation may not initially be cost effective, but it will result in not only the survivability of the environment, but of the country’s economy. Widespread awareness of these ideas will help fight against the natural human tendency towards instant gratification and short-term goals. Different methods of logging can be utilized to allow the rainforests to survive and regrow naturally and at a sustainable
Perry, D. A. (1998). The Scientific Basis of Forestry, Annual Review of Ecology and System Thematic 29:435-466, Retrieved July 9, 2005 from: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/policy_and_events/index.cfm
1 According to Foster, "harvesting is sustainable if the stimulated growth rate is equal to or greater than that of the existing forest."
Environmental issues affect every life on this planet from the smallest parasite to the human race. There are many resources that humans and animal needs to survive; some of the most obvious resources come from the forests. Forests make up a large percentage of the globe. The forests have global implications not just on life but on the quality of it. Trees improve the quality of the air that species breath, determine rainfall and replenish the atmosphere. The wood from the forests are used everyday form many useful resources. Moreover, thinning the forests increases the amount of available light, nutrients and water for the remaining trees. Deforestation (forest thinning) is one of the most critical issues of environmental problems that are occurring today.
Pagdee, A., Kim, Y., Daugherty, P. J., 2006. What makes Community Forest Management Successful: A meta-Study From Community Forests Throughout the World, Society and Natural Resources, 19(1): 33-52
Taking wood from rainforests and old-growth forests is detrimental to the environment and society. However, it is possible for us to have sustainable wood if we make an effort.
Rainforests once covered 14% of the worlds land surface, however now it only covers a mere 6%. It is estimated that all rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years. Trees are becoming more needed and used everyday. We need them cut down for many reasons such as paper and timber, while also needing them ‘untouched’ for other reasons like oxygen, we have to ask ourselves, which is more important? At the current rate, most of the rainforests are being cut down for resources like paper and timber, but less importance is being placed on main resources like oxygen.
Legislators have defined "salvage logging" as the act of logging unhealthy forest stands, considered to have a probability of experiencing extreme insect and disease infestation of catastrophic fire. However, no scientific consensus exists for describing an unhealthy forest, predicting or classifying catastrophic fire event, or classifying the resultant damage of an insect and disease. Salvage logging was an alternative way of meeting timber demands and generating revenues by timber industries and legislators without much opposition from the public. This is because the laws permitting such logging practices are so vague and confusing. Legislators espouse that the sales from such practice brings in money to the Treasury while rendering the forests more "health." Proponents claimed that harvesting timber would reduce fuel-loading to reduce the intensity of fires and thin-out forests stands to relieve inter-tree competition. Though this sounds plausible, the criteria for determining what sort of trees would be removed, and who would make the decision still remains unanswered.
First and foremost is the establishment of Forest Protection Schemes, which mainly aim at setting up National Parks and Forest Reserves. Although this is a very effective method it is not enough and such schemes tend to be used to justify destructive exploitation of unprotected areas of forest. Farm Forestry generally refers to the incorporation of commercial tree growing into farming systems. Farm Forestry is as effective as it is because it takes the load off old-growth forests.