Transport plans in forestry and preparation of forest transport plans for mauntainous regions

In forest management, transportation stage involves a rather difficult, expensive and time-consuming activity. In our country, average forest yield is about 15 million cubic meter per year. Transportation of forest yield from forest to the landings have been practiced in various forms. Transporting forest yield with minimum damage to the environment forms a crucial matter in our country where there exists a 3,5 million cubic meter forest yield deficit per year. Unfortunately, this point has been neglected in forest transport planning to date. In this study first, a suitable area for forest transport planning was selected. This is region known as Kümbet Forest District. Then, a terrain classification and an optimum forest road network planning for the region were carried out. In addition, for Kümbet District or for other similar regions time and cost analysis were performed. Also with the data obtained from the management and silviculture plans of Kümbet District, by taking into account technical, silvicultural, topographical and economical constraints of the region, the optimum transportation methods were determined. The average slope in the forest lands of Kümbet District is 60 %. The existing road density was 12,52 m/ha(meter per hectare). Whereas, the optimum road density was obtained as 21,98 m/ha. In Kümbet District, the exploited forest area with respect to the existing road network is 37 %. In addition to these figures, a number of production and cost values were obtained as the result of extraction analysis. With the proposed Kümbet Forest Transport Plan., the extraction of forest yield can be performed in a shorter time with decreased cost. The rate of mechanization has been raised from 6,4 % to 37,49 % for stumpage for ten-years period. Also, with the application of the plan, it will be possible to save around 150000 $ for the regeneration areas of the forest for only log transportation. Furthermore, the plan ensures the most efficient use of the existing transport machinery, reduction of the losses in quality and quantity during transportation and thus less time-consuming for the operation. Consequently, the proposed plan proposed plan promotes an effevtive management of our forest resources. Key Words: The forest transport plan, Optimum forest road network, The rate of Mechanization, The rate of exploited, Kümbet Forest District Micro and macro transport plans -VIII-