Forest Harvesting Productivity and Cost in Maine: New Tools and Processes

Computer simulations have been used in forestry and forest operations since around 1960. In many cases such simulations can be used to answer questions that would be time consuming and expensive to investigate in a real-life environment. This dissertation focuses on the use of computer simulation in forest operations to answer questions regarding the profitability of technological advancements, investments in precommercial thinning (PCT), and the use of different harvesting systems. To explore the benefits of decoupling a harvesting system, a new simulation method, called agent based modeling was used. Agent based modeling is primarily used in social sciences but now is increasingly used in other fields due to its flexibility in assigning behavior rules to individual object (agents). Other computer simulations in this study were based on growth & yield models and harvest time simulations. Results clearly showed that technological advancements in a grapple skidder and stroke delimber system marginally increased profits, whereas the use of two grapple skidders proved to be most profitable in the majority of scenarios tested. Further, results showed that the same profit per unit can be achieved at the first commercial thinning, whether a stand was previously precommercially thinned or not. Thus, there is no financial gain or loss in investing in PCT at the first thinning, although there will be a faster supply of sawlogs in the future. The last simulation clearly showed that delaying a commercial thinning does not result in a change of maximum net present value (NPV), however, it does change the time in which this NPV can be achieved. The simulation further showed that a cut-to-length harvesting system is the most profitable one in the final harvest of softwood stands in northern Maine. Overall, these simulations have provided data that in most cases would otherwise not have been possible to collect for years to come. In the future each individual study can be expanded to refine the questions asked or to include an increasing variety of harvesting equipment

The Impact of Felling Method, Bunch Size, Slope Degree and Skidding Area on Productivity and Costs of Skidding in a Eucalyptus Plantation

Grapple skidder is a machine designed for the extraction of tree bunches after felling. Several factors influence its technical performance and costs such as terrain slope, operator experience time, machine type, and the size of tree bunches for each operating cycle, among others. Thus, it becomes necessary to weigh the variables that most influence the productivity and costs of the grapple skidder. So, the main objective was evaluated according to the influence of bunch size using two feller bunchers with distinct technical characteristics, two slope classes and two skidding areas on the productivity and machine production cost in a Eucalyptus plantation. For the analysis of the productivity, the study of time and method was applied and the scheduled machine cost per hour was based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations methods. When analyzing the results, it was found that the operational elements moving without load (MWoL) and moving with load (MWL) were the ones that spend the most time in the operational cycle of the grapple skidder. Among the cost components, monetary expenditure on fuel and operator labor were the most influential in the scheduled machine cost per hour. In conclusion, the tree bunches and slope class influenced the productivity and, consequently, the cost of the skidding operation

Center for Research on Sustainable Forests 2017 Annual Report

Ongoing development within the CRSF to be the region’s research data portal and geospatial observatory for forests of the Northeastern US. In addition to updating the CRSF home website, we continue to support three online tools for forest resources professionals and the public: Northeast Forest Information System (NEFIS) – an online, opensource, web portal for applied forestry information (http://www.nefismembers.org). More than 1,000 documents were uploaded over the year on a wide range of topics, user numbers have doubled, and monthly page views have reached nearly 5,000. Maine Forest Spatial Tool – displays a wide variety of geospatial data on forest resources across the State of Maine for both forest resource professionals and the public (http://mfst.acg.maine.edu). Maine Forest Dashboard – The Dashboard was launched in Spring 2017 and can be accessed at http://www.maineforestdashboard.com. The site provides customizable forest statistics and changes using long-term data from the Maine Forest Service and has had nearly 100 page views since its release in early May. CRSF scientists continue to provide a strong return for every dollar provided by the Maine Economic Improvement Fund (MEIF) to support CRSF research. In the past year, there has been over $21 in return for every$1 invested in

Cooperative Forestry Research Unit Annual Report 2016

Cooperative forestry research unit annual repor

Modelagem das operações de extração madeireira em regime de manejo sustentável na Amazônia : estudo de caso de um sistema de exploração

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Tecnologia, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Florestais, 2018.O objetivo geral, nesta pesquisa, foi entender e estimar os fatores que influenciam o rendimento das operações florestais envolvidas na extração de toras, visando estabelecer indicadores que colaborem com o planejamento da exploração florestal. Procurou-se modelar o tempo efetivo das operações de extração de madeira em função dos parâmetros peso da tora e distância da tora à trilha de arraste e da trilha até o pátio de estocagem de madeira. Foram realizadas tomadas de tempo dos elementos do ciclo operacional da extração florestal, calculado o volume individual de cada tora e determinados os rendimentos das operações. Os custos operacionais fixos e variáveis da extração florestal e o seu custo de produção também foram determinados. Procedeu-se à modelagem envolvendo o rendimento das operações com as variáveis distância (m) da tora a trilha de arraste, distância (m) da trilha ao pátio de estocagem e peso da tora por meio do método dos Mínimos Quadrados Ordinários. A eficiência operacional do guinchamento foi de 83,25% e a produtividade, de 31,12 m³ he-1, sendo o consumo de combustível e a mão de obra os elementos de maior contribuição para o custo operacional. Já a eficiência operacional do arraste foi de 91,83% e a produtividade, de 49,41 m³ he-1, em que o consumo de combustível e de óleo hidráulico foi o elemento com maior participação no custo operacional. O modelo proposto para as operações indica que o tempo efetivo cresce a uma taxa de 7,68% no guinchamento e de 0,90% no arraste, para cada aumento absoluto de um metro na distância percorrida. As seguintes conclusões foram extraídas do presente trabalho: (a) as variáveis distância métrica da tora ao pátio de estocagem de madeira e o peso unitário de cada tora influenciam o tempo de execução das operações; (b) o peso da tora guinchada e arrastada mostrou ser pouco significativo para explicar o tempo efetivo gasto nas operações analisadas neste estudo; (c) o tempo efetivo gastos nas operações mostrou ser sensível à distância percorrida pela tora e (d) o modelo log-lin se ajustou bem para prever o tempo efetivo gasto para a execução das operações de extração de madeira.The general objective of this research was to understand and estimate the factors influencing the yield of the logging operations involved in the extraction of logs, in order to establish indicators that collaborate with the forest exploitation planning. It was tried to model the effective time of the operations of extraction of wood according to the parameters weight of the log and distance of the log to the trail of drag and of the trail until the patio of storage of wood. Time elements were taken of the operational cycle of the forest extraction, calculated the individual volume of each log and determined the yields of the operations. The fixed and variable operational costs of the forest extraction and its cost of production were also determined. Modeling involving the performance of the operations with the variables distance (m) of the log, the trailing trail, distance (m) of the trail to the storage yard and log weight was done by means of the Ordinary Least Squares method. The operating efficiency of the boom was 83.25% and the productivity was 31.12 m³ he-1, with fuel consumption and labor being the main contributors to operating costs. On the other hand, the operational efficiency of the drag was 91.83% and the productivity was 49.41 m³ he-1, in which fuel and hydraulic oil consumption was the element with the highest participation in the operational cost. The proposed model for operations indicates that the effective time increases at a rate of 7.68% in the squeal and 0.90% in the drag, for each absolute increase of one meter in the distance traveled. The following conclusions were drawn from the present work: (a) the variables metric distance of the log to the wood storage yard and the unit weight of each log influence the execution time of the operations; (b) the weight of the towed and dragged log showed to be insignificant to explain the effective time spent in the operations analyzed in this study; (c) the actual time spent on operations showed to be sensitive to the distance traveled by the log and (d) the log-lin model adjusted well to predict the effective time spent for the execution of the logging operations

European Union Timber Regulation Impact on International Timber Markets

The trade of illegal timber, often from illegal logging, has severe environmental, social and economic consequences. The EU’s response to this problem came with the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, with its specific goal to end illegal logging, thereby improving sustainability of forest resources. In March 2013, an additional step was taken by implementing the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). The EUTR requires proof of timber’s origin and legality to ensure that no illegal timber is imported into the EU. To this end the EU intends to block imports of any wood or wood product which comes from unknown sources. Certification of sustainable forest management will help EU importers minimize risk, which is an essential part of their required due diligence system. Monitoring organizations are established to assist trade associations and businesses to construct comprehensive due diligence systems. National competent authorities are designated to follow the trade of the new FLEGT-licensed timber and timber products. In the first year of the EUTR there are positive impacts, of which the most important is awareness of the disastrous situation with illegal logging, driven by exports of illegal timber. Another positive development is tropical timber exporters documenting the legality of their wood exports. Yet another positive feature is establishment of due diligence systems by EU importers. However, there are considerable problems for ensuring legal trade; for example the lack of comprehensive documentation of origin and legality. Analysis of recent trends establishes changes in the European timber trade in terms of sourcing, substitution, diversion to less-demanding countries. Short-term forecasts of market trends and changes will enable further policy assessment to achieve the objectives of improved legality in international timber markets.JRC.H.3-Forest Resources and Climat