Title:
Precision Forest Harvesting Approach in the Utilization of Riparian Forests
Author(s):
Latterini, F., Stefanoni, W., Lazar, S., Pari, L., Venanzi, R., Tocci, D., Picchio, R.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
European Union is encouraging renewable energy production from biomass. Forestry sector is one of the major producers of biomass and this is particularly true for riparian forests. Such stands indeed show high biomass yield, even if the attainable assortments have low economic value, on the other hand, interventions are needed to allow for the hydrogeological safety of the area. Considering this there is a strong need to optimize forest operation in such stands, ensuring sustainable forest operation for what concerning all the three pillars of sustainability. Proper planning of forest utilization is crucial to ensure sustainable forest operation and precision forest harvesting approach, through technologies such GIS, can be a powerful instrument to reach this aim. The present study was set up in Lazio Region in Italy. The aim was to perform a preliminary planning of the forest intervention in the riparian stands comparing two different extraction systems, i.e. cable skidder and forwarder with particular reference to the occurred impacts to forest soil. Starting from the Digital Terrain Model at 10 m resolution of the area and applying the RDBM method developed and improved by the same research group, the skid trails/strip roads network needed for intervention was designed in a semi-automatic way and the results of the two simulations (one for each extraction system) were compared in terms of soil impacts. Cable skidder showed to be the most appropriate system in this kind of interventions, where working productivity is important but even more attention has to be put to limit the impacts to soil considering the high ecological and hydrogeological value of these stands. The lower working distance of forwarder indeed led to a viability density needed for the intervention of 611 m/ha while only 172 m/ha were sufficient for allowing extraction via cable skidder.
Keywords:
geographical information system (GIS), cable skidder, sustainable forest operations, reduced-impact logging, forwarder
Topic:
Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy
Subtopic:
Biomass resources and potentials
Event:
30th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1AO.7.1
Pages:
39 - 41
ISBN:
978-88-89407-22-6
Paper DOI:
10.5071/30thEUBCE2022-1AO.7.1
Price:
FREE
