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Damage-controlled logging in managed tropical rain forest in Suriname
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why is identity important? Why is openness important in contemporary society? In summary the designers in the seminar seem to be concerned with the layout of a ce:*tain kind of open space as a product of their deliberations. These products often seem to be regarded as the ‘ends’ of the design process. However ::hese are, in a very real sense, merely means to other much more important ends. These ends involve the ways in which the designs altell*the lives of the users. Do they reduce the ,;tresses of daily living? Do they enhance sellf-identity of the users? Do they put urban pebple in touch with cyclical time for short but important periods in their day-to-day existence? Eo they engender a ‘sense of’coherence’ in the users? It is to these types of ques-
Damage-Controled Logging in Managed Tropical &iri Forest in Suriname. (J. Hendrison, Agricultural University, Wageningen, Netherlands, 1998, 204 pp., ISBN 9O800076”4” 1. ‘Logging is often blamed as a major cause and of forest degra c~t~~~c~io~i tropical r,ain forests. The primary interest of this study is to enhance sustainable forest development and management, making wise use of the forest resource base. The objectives of the research and investigations of this study were to develop controlled forest operations, reducing environmental impact of harvesting on the forest stand, soil and the harvested products. In this context, it is interesting to note that damage-controlled harvesting operations also showed an improved cost efficiency and higher productivity compared with conventional operations. The result could ultimately help to convince managers and forest operators to change their course of action and to replace short-term gains STJUrCe
tions that future landscape architects must address themselves as is hinted at, but not elaborated, in the chapter on ‘Changing Ideals in Urban Landscape Architecture in the Netherlands’. In many ways this is a stimulating book. It made me angry. It made me think. I gave the appropriate chapters on the design seminar to a tutorial group of final year landscape architecture students to discuss and compare their analysis with that presented in Chapters 5 and 6. It was a very lively discussion. B.NETTLETON School of Environmental Planning Universityof Melbourne Parkville 3052 Victoria Ausiralia
by sustainable production in tropical high forests. The author analyses the evolution of forest management and harvesting practices as well as research efforts in Suriname, with particular reference to the CELOS Silvicultural System (named after the Centre of Agricultural Research in Suriname) allowing harvesting of logged-over areas aAer appropriate treatment within a time frame: of 20 years. The study is part of a continuing effort to integrate the silvicultural system and harvesting into a forest management system aimed at sustainable production. The author is convinced that this management system would be applicable not only to the forestry belt in Suriname but also in some of the forest types of the Amazon basin. The research was carried out in the Mapane and Patamacca regions, 100-200 km southeast of Paramaribo, comparing investigations of conventional and controlled operations, some of them in ongoing concessions such as with the largest concession holder, the Bruynzeel Wood Company. The author reports that experiments were
235
based on 100% enumeration prior to harvesting, which helped in the design of the layout of felling and wood transport, minimized damage and increased harvesting productivity. The feiling and skidding damage were assessed by determining gaps in percent of the total forest cover and damaged trees per hectare. The research showed that for a felling intensity of 8- 10 trees ha- ’ (20 m3), 8% of the forest cover was damaged in controlled operations vs. 14% in conventional operations. An analysis was made of major factors influencing felling damage such as felling intensity, crown shapes, presence of vines and climbers and felling method. The impact of skid trails in controlled operations was ~-8% of the forest area, which was 50% less than in conventional operations. This was mainly the result of preplanned skid trails, directional felling and the application of winch skidding up to a distance of 50 m. Soil damage occurred on primary and secondary skid trails in relation to the skidding intensity, soil1structure and moisture content, which determined the compaction and deformation of the soil. Identification of primary and secondary trails was considered important as investigarions after 8 years of logging clearly demonstrated that recovery with vegetation on primary skid trails was only partial, whereas secondary trails could no longer be recognized. One of the author’s major findings relates to the efficiency of controlled logging, which is
superior to traditional logging practices. Production was examined in relation to productive crew-time and machine time. For felling operations, production output was similar, but in terms of quality output it was much higher, with less timber wasted through reduced stump heights and more efficient bucking. Skidding production was twice that of the conventional method owing to better planted and trafficable skid trails, improved livork organization, machine maintenance and rational felling and skidding techniques. The author concludes that the research results validate the appiicabiiity of the CELOS harvesting system, combining economic and ecological features for sustainable timber production. A suggestion is made for an organizational unit which would comprise a five-man crew for inventory, a three-man crew for felling and two-man crews each for the crawler tractor and the wheeled skidder, Such a logging unit could harvest an area of 1000 ha annually. Finally, the report providies guidelines for a standard management unit with a production target of some 25 000 m3, restricting felling intensity to 30 m3 ha- ’ to maintain the conservation functions of the forest. RUClOLF HEINRICH
Forest Harvesting and Transport Branch Forest Products Division Forestry Department Via delle Terme di Caracaila OOlQ/O Rome Italy
why is identity important? Why is openness important in contemporary society? In summary the designers in the seminar seem to be concerned with the layout of a ce:*tain kind of open space as a product of their deliberations. These products often seem to be regarded as the ‘ends’ of the design process. However ::hese are, in a very real sense, merely means to other much more important ends. These ends involve the ways in which the designs altell*the lives of the users. Do they reduce the ,;tresses of daily living? Do they enhance sellf-identity of the users? Do they put urban pebple in touch with cyclical time for short but important periods in their day-to-day existence? Eo they engender a ‘sense of’coherence’ in the users? It is to these types of ques-
Damage-Controled Logging in Managed Tropical &iri Forest in Suriname. (J. Hendrison, Agricultural University, Wageningen, Netherlands, 1998, 204 pp., ISBN 9O800076”4” 1. ‘Logging is often blamed as a major cause and of forest degra c~t~~~c~io~i tropical r,ain forests. The primary interest of this study is to enhance sustainable forest development and management, making wise use of the forest resource base. The objectives of the research and investigations of this study were to develop controlled forest operations, reducing environmental impact of harvesting on the forest stand, soil and the harvested products. In this context, it is interesting to note that damage-controlled harvesting operations also showed an improved cost efficiency and higher productivity compared with conventional operations. The result could ultimately help to convince managers and forest operators to change their course of action and to replace short-term gains STJUrCe
tions that future landscape architects must address themselves as is hinted at, but not elaborated, in the chapter on ‘Changing Ideals in Urban Landscape Architecture in the Netherlands’. In many ways this is a stimulating book. It made me angry. It made me think. I gave the appropriate chapters on the design seminar to a tutorial group of final year landscape architecture students to discuss and compare their analysis with that presented in Chapters 5 and 6. It was a very lively discussion. B.NETTLETON School of Environmental Planning Universityof Melbourne Parkville 3052 Victoria Ausiralia
by sustainable production in tropical high forests. The author analyses the evolution of forest management and harvesting practices as well as research efforts in Suriname, with particular reference to the CELOS Silvicultural System (named after the Centre of Agricultural Research in Suriname) allowing harvesting of logged-over areas aAer appropriate treatment within a time frame: of 20 years. The study is part of a continuing effort to integrate the silvicultural system and harvesting into a forest management system aimed at sustainable production. The author is convinced that this management system would be applicable not only to the forestry belt in Suriname but also in some of the forest types of the Amazon basin. The research was carried out in the Mapane and Patamacca regions, 100-200 km southeast of Paramaribo, comparing investigations of conventional and controlled operations, some of them in ongoing concessions such as with the largest concession holder, the Bruynzeel Wood Company. The author reports that experiments were
235
based on 100% enumeration prior to harvesting, which helped in the design of the layout of felling and wood transport, minimized damage and increased harvesting productivity. The feiling and skidding damage were assessed by determining gaps in percent of the total forest cover and damaged trees per hectare. The research showed that for a felling intensity of 8- 10 trees ha- ’ (20 m3), 8% of the forest cover was damaged in controlled operations vs. 14% in conventional operations. An analysis was made of major factors influencing felling damage such as felling intensity, crown shapes, presence of vines and climbers and felling method. The impact of skid trails in controlled operations was ~-8% of the forest area, which was 50% less than in conventional operations. This was mainly the result of preplanned skid trails, directional felling and the application of winch skidding up to a distance of 50 m. Soil damage occurred on primary and secondary skid trails in relation to the skidding intensity, soil1structure and moisture content, which determined the compaction and deformation of the soil. Identification of primary and secondary trails was considered important as investigarions after 8 years of logging clearly demonstrated that recovery with vegetation on primary skid trails was only partial, whereas secondary trails could no longer be recognized. One of the author’s major findings relates to the efficiency of controlled logging, which is
superior to traditional logging practices. Production was examined in relation to productive crew-time and machine time. For felling operations, production output was similar, but in terms of quality output it was much higher, with less timber wasted through reduced stump heights and more efficient bucking. Skidding production was twice that of the conventional method owing to better planted and trafficable skid trails, improved livork organization, machine maintenance and rational felling and skidding techniques. The author concludes that the research results validate the appiicabiiity of the CELOS harvesting system, combining economic and ecological features for sustainable timber production. A suggestion is made for an organizational unit which would comprise a five-man crew for inventory, a three-man crew for felling and two-man crews each for the crawler tractor and the wheeled skidder, Such a logging unit could harvest an area of 1000 ha annually. Finally, the report providies guidelines for a standard management unit with a production target of some 25 000 m3, restricting felling intensity to 30 m3 ha- ’ to maintain the conservation functions of the forest. RUClOLF HEINRICH
Forest Harvesting and Transport Branch Forest Products Division Forestry Department Via delle Terme di Caracaila OOlQ/O Rome Italy