An economic assessment of implementing streamside management zones in central Appalachian hardwood forests

Abstract

The effects of variable width of streamside management zones (25, 50, 75, and 100 ft) (SMZs) and removal level of trees (10%, 30%, and 50% of basal area) on production and cost of implementing SMZs in central Appalachian hardwood forests were simulated by using a computer model. Harvesting operations were performed on an 80-year-old generated natural hardwood stand with a manual harvesting system of chainsaw felling and cable skidder extraction. Two skidding patterns using one landing with a stream crossing and two landings without a stream crossing were examined in the study. The hourly felling production with SMZs was 3.21 cunit (100 ft?) with an average unit cost of $9.04 per cunit. The productivity of conventional cable skidding with SMZs was 2.59 cunit per productive machine hour (PMH) and the unit cost averaged $31.12/cunit. Results indicated that felling with SMZs was 13 percent less productive and 15 percent more expensive than the felling operations without SMZs, while the skidder's productivity with SMZs was 8 percent lower and its unit cost was 9 percent higher than without SMZs. SMZ width and removal level did significantly affect the felling and skidding operations. The opportunity cost was indicated as a major cost component for implementing SMZs in central hardwood forests, which accounted for 27 percent of the total on-board cost.

Citation

Li, Yaoxiang; LeDoux, Chris B.; Wang, Jingxin. 2006. An economic assessment of implementing streamside management zones in central Appalachian hardwood forests. Forest Products Journal 56(10):73-79