Optimum road and lumber storage density for natural forest management in Mato Grosso, Brazil

This research was undertaken in a natural forest logging area in Mato Grosso, Brazil, where mature trees are selectively felled following the guidance of a Forestry Management Plan. The objective of the study was to demonstrate that the current road and lumber storage infrastructure scheme used in management plans does not reduce timber harvest costs. We used the information concerning road construction and lumber storage mainly involving a continuous tracked tractor (model FIATALLIS Ad7-b), and a skidder (model CATERPILLAR 525) for tree dragging, during a period of 17 working days. We obtained a minimum value through calculation of interaction costs of both operations. The data were processed on PACE (Automated Program for Evaluating Costs). Results showed that the traditional systematic model, used for projecting and constructing road infrastructure in the logging area, does not reduce timber harvest costs. Our proposal reduced current road density by 26.6% representing a harvest cost reduction of 0.15 USD/m-3 without significantly impacting productivity and tree dragging costs.

• Huvudupphovsman: Cándano Acosta, Fidel (author)
• Övriga upphovsmän: Peñalver Romeo, Alberto (author), Ramos Rodríguez, Marcos Pedro (author), Drescher, Ronaldo (author)
• Materialtyp: article
• Språk: spa
• Publicerad: 2015
• Länkar: https://revistasespam.espam.edu.ec/index.php/Revista_ESPAMCIENCIA/article/view/98