Methods of Protection Forest Soils during Logging Operations (Review)
Journal Title: Lesnoy Zhurnal (Russian Forestry Journal) - Year 2021, Vol 24, Issue 5
Abstract
Public opinion has become increasingly critical of current logging methods and technologies, and there is a demand for standards to guide the operations of environmentally impactful industries. For many years, numerous researchers have studied the impact of logging on forest soils, revealing that there is a high risk of damaging forest soil during forest operations and terrain transport. Here we analyse and review a total of 105 publications in this area. This large body of work demonstrates the scientific interest that this field has attracted. Despite this, important areas of uncertainty concerning the impact of forest harvesting still remain. In particular, changes in soil conditions can affect soil properties in ways that are not well understood, with possible impacts on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils as well as the structure of the soil cover. While it is difficult to fully eliminate the negative impact of forest operations on forest soils, their adverse environmental consequences should be minimised because soil plays a vital role in tree regeneration and helps determine the productivity of future forest stands. Some of the most frequently cited measures and effective technological solutions to minimize damage to forest soils involve taking terrain and different technical solutions into account when organising logging operations. Potentially helpful technical solutions include selecting machines and mechanisms suitable for the site conditions, using larger and/or low-pressure tyres, using tyre pressure control, using anti-skid tracks, using track belts, meliorating wet areas, and using logging machinery incorporating global positioning systems and geographic information systems. Planning measures that can help minimize soil damage include choosing a suitable wood harvesting system and technology, accounting for seasonal factors when planning logging operations, planning networks of roads and trails in advance, leaving wood residues or mats on soil surface, training forest specialists, and reducing the number of machine passes over skid trails and strip roads. Despite active interest in applying sparing methods of wood harvesting, uptake of measures designed to reduce negative impacts on forest soils after logging has been limited. This may be due to a lack of scientific and technical information and the high cost of implementing best management practices. Moreover, economic factors and production plans may require wood harvesting throughout the year, irrespective of conditions.
Authors and Affiliations
Aleksey S. Ilintsev1, Candidate of Agriculture, Senior Research Scientist; ResearcherID: N-6286-2019, ORCID: https://orcid. org/0000-0003-3524-4665 Elena N. Nakvasina2, Doctor of Agriculture, Prof. ; ResearcherID: A-5165-2013, ORCID: https://orcid. org/0000-0002-7360-3975 Lars Högbom3,4, PhD, Associated Professor; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6914-2897
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP697383
- DOI 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-5-92-116
- Views 97
- Downloads 0
Substantiation of Technological Processes and Machinery Systems for Logging Operations
The work analyses the forest raw material resources of the Far Eastern Federal District. Corresponding to the conclusions, it is made an evaluation of a promising technology and systems of machinery for logging. It shows...
Optimization of Tall Oil Pitch Saponification by Experimental Design
Sustainable recycling of wood chemical production wastes is one of the current issues of modern technology. As a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, tall oil pitch has found application as a potential source of ph...
Remote Monitoring of State Forest Shelterbelts in the Steppe Zone of European Russia
State forest shelterbelts are not only one of the components of the ecological framework of sparsely forested steppe territories, but also represent a unique object of steppe afforestation. Age-related changes and a long...
Optimizing the Forest Firefighting Vehicle Operation Modes
The article considers specialized forest firefighting vehicles required to extinguish forest fires. An overview of modern domestic and foreign forest firefighting equipment and techniques for fighting forest fires is pre...
Dynamics of the Spruce Population Structure Under the Canopy of Birch in Coniferous-Deciduous and Southern Taiga Forests of European Russia
A comparative study of a restoration process is conducted in combinational forests of birch and spruce, as a population under the canopy, in the conditions of coniferousdeciduous or subboreal (Moscow region, Mozhayskiy d...