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Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering : Journal for Theory and Application of Forestry Engineering, Vol. 45 No. 1, 2024.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.5552/crojfe.2024.2185

Infrastructure Requirements for Clear-Fell Harvesting of Small-Scale Plantation Forests in New Zealand

Jacob Allum ; University of Canterbury School of Forestry 20 Kirkwood Avenue Ilam Christchurch 8041 NEW ZEALAND
Campbell Harvey ; University of Canterbury School of Forestry 20 Kirkwood Avenue Ilam Christchurch 8041 NEW ZEALAND
Rien Visser ; University of Canterbury School of Forestry 20 Kirkwood Avenue Ilam Christchurch 8041 NEW ZEALAND
Stephan Hoffmann ; Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research Department of Forest Operations and Digitalization Høgskoleveien 8 1433 Ås NORWAY

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Abstract

Background: Small-scale forests (woodlots) increasingly account for a greater proportion of the total annual harvest in New Zealand. There is limited information on the extent of infrastructure required to harvest a woodlot; road density (trafficable with log trucks), landing size, or the average harvest area that each landing typically services.
Methods: This study quantified woodlot infrastructure averages and evaluated influencing factors. Using publicly available aerial imagery, roads and landings were mapped for a sample of 96 woodlots distributed across the country. Factors such as total harvest area, average terrain slope, length/width ratio, boundary complexity and extraction method were recorded and investigated for correlations.
Results: The average road density was 25 m/ha, landing size was 3000 m2 and each landing was serviced on average 12.8 ha. Notably, 15 of the 96 woodlots had no internal infrastructure, with the harvest completed using roads and landings located outside of the woodlot boundary. Factors influencing road density were woodlot length/width ratio, average terrain slope and boundary complexity. Landing size was influenced by average terrain slope, woodlot length/width ratio, and woodlot area.
Conclusion: The results provide a contemporary benchmark of the current infrastructure requirements when harvesting a small-scale forests in New Zealand. These may be used at a high level to infer the total annual infrastructure investment in New Zealand’s woodlot estate and also project infrastructure requirements over the foreseeable future.

Keywords

forest infrastucture, small-scale forestry

Hrčak ID:

311932

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/311932

Publication date:

12.1.2024.

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