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 96
- Downloads 0
Changes in Forested Areas of the North-Eastern Region of Azerbaijan Revealed by Satellite Images
Among the most valuable natural resources of any country are its forest reserves. They need to be preserved. The need for forest protection also exists in Azerbaijan, where there is less forest per inhabitant than in nei...
Hydromelioration in Forestry: History of Research
Wetlands cover more than 220 mln ha of Russia’s forests. Swamps alone represent more than 100 mln of them. There are low-quality and low-yield stands on waterlogged areas. Much of such land is treeless. Many years of hyd...
Efficiency of Thinning in Deciduous-Spruce Forest Stands in the Northern Taiga Forest Region of the European Part of the Russian Federation
Research on permanent sample plots (Arkhangelsk, Northern district forestry, Obozerskoye forestry) in birch and spruce stands with an understory layer of spruce was carried out. The sample plots were established since 19...
Morphometric Criteria for Assessing the Containerized Conifers Seedlings Quality
The quality of planted forest crops depends significantly on the qualities of the planting stock. Numerous studies have been carried out to find clear seedling quality criteria and work out methods for their quantitative...
Evaluation of Thinning Efficiency in Pineries of Dry Forest Sites of the Kazakh Uplands
According to the current Forest Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the forest plantations of specially protected natural areas, the main forestry measures aimed at the conservation and enhancement of the protective f...