Научная статья на тему 'Implementing reduced-impact logging (ril) to Advance sustainable forest management (SFM) in the Ukrainian Carpathians'

Implementing reduced-impact logging (ril) to Advance sustainable forest management (SFM) in the Ukrainian Carpathians Текст научной статьи по специальности «Сельское хозяйство, лесное хозяйство, рыбное хозяйство»

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Аннотация научной статьи по сельскому хозяйству, лесному хозяйству, рыбному хозяйству, автор научной работы — Yurij Bihun

Inappropriate logging and road building techniques continue to be one of the greatest obstacles to sustainable forest management (SFM) in the mountain forests of western Ukraine. Harvesting schedules and techniques should be based on the applications of modern mathematical programming techniques determined by available equipment, site, the allowable cut and the cutting budget over multiple rotations or cutting cycles. Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) is primarily associated with SFM and precision timber harvesting in tropical countries. To a large extent, these RIL technologies are utilized as a matter of routine operations in temperate countries and represent nothing new. Nonetheless, the differences between industrialized countries with a developed forest product industry and countries with transition economies like Ukraine are substantial and the parallels with developing countries make a preliminary examination of the applicability of RIL worthwhile. According to the conceptual framework of RIL, SFM requires the implementation of silvicultural practices that reduce the site disturbance caused by commercial timber harvesting. RIL is made up of three elements: 1) planning 2) training, and 3) appropriate technology. Functional aspects of RIL and its appropriateness in the Carpathian Mountains that are examined in cursory detail include: road building, costs, training and supervision, improving harvest recovery, harvesting equipment and timber transport machinery, decision support systems and inventory tools. An analysis of RIL methodology as a model to adapt to local economic and environmental conditions is worth investigation. RIL is an evolving model – labor costs change, logging technology changes, the industrial demand changes and environmental perspectives change. Hence, foresters and logging engineers have to stay current and practices have to be flexible to have a lasting impact. RIL offers a potential strategy for transforming the poor logging practices and slowing degradation of mountain forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians.

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Застосування системи зменшення впливу лісозаготівлі (RIL) для забезпечення сталого розвитку лісового господарства (SFM) в Українських Карпатах

Недосконалі лісозаготівельна та дорожньо-будівельна техніка залишається однією із найбільших перешкод для сталого розвитку лісового господарства (SFM) в гірських регіонах західної України. Лісозаготівельне планування має базуватися на використанні сучасних методів математичного програмування з використанням даних про придатне обладнання, еколого-прийнятні способи рубання, об'єми лісозаготівлі. Система зменшення впливу лісозаготівлі (RIL) першочергово була створена для забезпечення прецизійної лісозаготівлі і SFM у тропічних країнах. Для широкого поширення RIL-технології рекомендовано для застосування в інших країнах, як система шаблонних технологічних операцій, що фактично не представляють собою нічого нового. Враховуючи, що відмінності між країнами з розвинутою лісовою галуззю і Україною є подібні до відмінностей з країнами, що розвиваються, можна пробувати застосовувати RIL-технології в незмінному вигляді і в Українських Карпатах. Згідно з концепцією RIL, сталий розвиток потребує виконання лісогосподарських робіт, які зменшують негативний вплив спричинений комерційною лісозаготівлею. RIL складається з трьох елементів: планування; навчання; вибору відповідної технології. Визначені в загальних рисах функціональні аспекти застосування RIL у Карпатах означають: дорожнє будівництво, навчання і контроль, покращене лісовідновлення, оновлені лісозаготівельне обладнання і лісотранспортні засоби, автоматизовані системи прийняття рішення та інструменти інвентаризації лісу. Методологія RIL полягає у визначенні вартості адаптування розроблених моделей до місцевих економічних і екологічних умов. RIL – це еволюційна модель змін трудовитрат, лісозаготівельної технології, економічних та екологічних перспектив. Відтепер працівникам лісової галузі доведеться сприймати ці зміни для того, щоб залишатися на сучасному рівні лісового господарювання. RIL пропонує дієву стратегію реорганізації лісової галузі і покращення стану гірських лісів Українських Карпат.

Текст научной работы на тему «Implementing reduced-impact logging (ril) to Advance sustainable forest management (SFM) in the Ukrainian Carpathians»

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References

1. Altan, M, O., Toz, F, G., ve Kùlùr. S., Bilgi Sistemlerindeki Geliçmeler ve Fotogramet-ri, Cografi Bilgi Sempozyumu 96, Eylul 1996, Bildiriler Kitabi, 63-69, istanbul.

2. Aricak, B., Hava Fotograflari Yardimi ile Kastamonu il Merkezi Çevresinin Arazi Kul-lanim §ekillerinin Belirlenmesi, Yuksek Lisans Tezi, G.Û. Fen Bil. Enstitusu, 2002, Ankara.

3. Blinn, C.R., Dahlman, R., Hislop, L. and Thompson, Temporary stream and wetland crossings for forest management. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-202. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 125 p. M.A.1999.

4. Erdas, O., Acar, H. H., Karaman, A., Gumus, S., Sellecting of Forest Road Routes on The Mountainous Areas Using Geographical Information Systems, XI Forestry Congress, Vol.3, P. 213, 13-22 October 1997, Antalya/ Turkey.

5. Erdaç, O., Acar, H.H., Tunay, M., ve Karaman, A., Turkiye'de Orman iççiligi ve Ûre-tim, Orman Yollari, Orman Ûrunleri Transportu, Ormancilikta Mekanizasyon ve Mulkiyet - Ka-dastro ile ilgili Sorunlar ve Çozum Onerileri, Turkiye Ormancilik Raporu, KTÛ Orman Fakultesi Yayin No:48, 1995, Trabzon.

6. Erdaç, O., Gùmùç, S., Orman Yol Geçkilerinin Belirlenmesinde Cografi Bilgi Sistemle-rinden Yararlanma imkanlari Ûzerine Bir Ara§tirma, TUBITAK Agric.For., (24) 2000.

7. Heinimann, H., R., Opening-up Planning Taking Into Account Environmental and Social Integrty, Proceedings of The Seminar on Environmentally Sound Forest Roads and Wood Transport, Sinaia, Romania, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 1998, P: 62-69.

8. Kose, S. ve Baçkent E.Z., Cografi Bilgi Sistemlerinin Ormanciligimizdaki Onemi, Orman Bakanligi 1. Ormancilik §ûrasi Tebligler ve On Çaliçma Gurubu Raporlari, Cilt 3, S. 195 - 204, seri No: 13, Yayin No: 006, 1-5 Kasim, 1993, Ankara.

9. Kose, S., Ôzkan, M., Ba^kent, E, Z., ve Gùl, A., Orman içletmelerinde Veri Tabani Oluçturulmasi, 1. Ulusal Karadeniz Ormancilik Kongresi, Ekim 1995, Bildiriler Kitabi, Cilt 4, 308-315, Trabzon.

10. Taçtan, H., Bank. E., Cografi Bilgi Sistemlerinde Konuma Bagli Analizler, CBS 94 1. Ulusal Cografi Bilgi Sistemleri Semp.Bildiriler Kitabi, s:33- 52, 18 - 20 Ekim 1994, Trabzon.

11. Yomralioglu, T., Cografi Bilgi Sistemleri Temel Kavramlar ve Uygulamalar, ISBN 975-97369-0-X, istanbul. _

Yurij BIHUN1 - Forest Resources Analyst and Visiting

Fulbright Scholar (USA)

IMPLEMENTING REDUCED-IMPACT LOGGING (RIL) TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT (SFM) IN THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS

Inappropriate logging and road building techniques continue to be one of the greatest obstacles to sustainable forest management (SFM) in the mountain forests of western Ukraine. Harvesting schedules and techniques should be based on the applications of modern mathematical programming techniques determined by available equipment, site, the allowable cut and the cutting budget over multiple rotations or cutting cycles. Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) is primarily associated with SFM and precision timber harvesting in tropical countries. To a large extent, these RIL technologies are utilized as a matter of routine operations in temperate countries and represent nothing new. Nonetheless, the differences between industrialized countries with a developed forest product industry and countries with transition economies like Ukraine are substantial and the parallels with developing countries make a preliminary examination of the applicability of RIL worthwhile.

According to the conceptual framework of RIL, SFM requires the implementation of silvicultural practices that reduce the site disturbance caused by commercial timber harvesting. RIL is made up of three elements: 1) planning 2) training, and 3) appropriate technology. Functional aspects of RIL and its appropriateness in the Carpathian Mountains that are examined in cursory detail include: road building, costs, training and supervision,

Науковий вкник, 2004, вип. 14.3

improving harvest recovery, harvesting equipment and timber transport machinery, decision support systems and inventory tools. An analysis of RIL methodology as a model to adapt to local economic and environmental conditions is worth investigation. RIL is an evolving model - labor costs change, logging technology changes, the industrial demand changes and environmental perspectives change. Hence, foresters and logging engineers have to stay current and practices have to be flexible to have a lasting impact. RIL offers a potential strategy for transforming the poor logging practices and slowing degradation of mountain forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians.

Юрш Б1ГУН1 - аналтик з лкових pecypcie, Фулбрайтвський науковець (США)

Застосування системи зменшення впливу л1созагот1вл1 (RIL) для забезпечення сталого розвитку лкового господарства (SFM) в

УкраТнських Карпатах

Недосконалi люозаготсвельна та дорожньо-будiвельна техшка залишасться од-шею i3 найбшьших перешкод для сталого розвитку люового господарства (SFM) в прських регюнах захщно"1 Украши. Люозагот1вельне планування мае базуватися на використанш сучасних методiв математичного програмування з використанням да-них про придатне обладнання, еколого-прийнятш способи рубання, об'еми люозаго-тсвль Система зменшення впливу лiсозаготiвлi (RIL) першочергово була створена для забезпечення прецизшно"1 лiсозаготiвлi i SFM у тротчних крашах. Для широкого поширення RrL-технологп рекомендовано для застосування в шших крашах, як система шаблонних технологiчних операцiй, що фактично не представляють собою нь чого нового. Враховуючи, що вiдмiнностi мiж крашами з розвинутою лiсовою галуз-зю i Украшою е подiбнi до вщмшностей з крашами, що розвиваються, можна пробу-вати застосовувати RrL-технологп в незмшному виглядi i в Укра'шських Карпатах.

Зпдно з концепщею RIL, сталий розвиток потребуе виконання люогосподарсь-ких робiт, якi зменшують негативний вплив спричинений комерцiйною люозаготсв-лею. RIL складаеться з трьох елеменпв: планування; навчання; вибору вщповщно! технологи. Визначенi в загальних рисах функщональш аспекти застосування RIL у Карпатах означають: дорожне будiвництво, навчання i контроль, покращене лiсовiд-новлення, оновлеш лiсозаготiвельне обладнання i люотранспортш засоби, автомати-зованi системи прийняття рiшення та iнструменти iнвентаризацii люу. Методологiя RIL полягае у визначенш вартостi адаптування розроблених моделей до мюцевих економiчних i екологiчних умов. RIL - це еволюцiйна модель змш трудовитрат, лiсо-заготiвельноi технологи, економiчних та екологiчних перспектив. Вщтепер працiв-никам лiсовоi галузi доведеться сприймати щ змiни для того, щоб залишатися на су-часному рiвнi лiсового господарювання. RIL пропонуе дiеву стратегiю реорганiзацii лiсовоi галузi i покращення стану г1рських лiсiв Укра1нських Карпат.

"In forestry, a distinction is often made between 'timber harvesting' and 'logging'. Logging generally refers to the process offelling and extracting timber from forests, whereas timber harvesting includes pre-harvest planning, technical supervision and post-harvest assessments that reflect concern about non-timber resource values and about the future state of the forest".

Dennis Dykstra, 2001

1 Ukrainian State University of Forestry and Wood Technology, Centre for Environment and Natural Resource Economics, Lviv, Ukraine (УкрДЛТУ, Центр екологп та еконо]шки природокористування)

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Introduction

Inappropriate logging and road building techniques continue to be one of the greatest obstacles to sustainable forest management (SFM) in the mountain forests of western Ukraine. Cutting streamside buffer zones, skidding across rivers and up riverbeds, point-source pollution, and the reliance on obsolete or incompatible timber transport technology are among the poor logging practices that plague current forestry operations. Decreased site productivity, soil compaction, sheet and gully erosion, mass movement, sedimentation, decrease in water quality and fisheries habitat are just the surface manifestations of these poor logging practices. Disruptions to the landscape ecology - wildlife corridors, migration patterns, forest health, the increase in threatened and endangered species and resultant decline of biodiversity are part of the larger challenge of protection of the mountain forests of the Carpathian ecozone.

Conservation Strategies

At the landscape level, the key to creating higher biodiversity is to treat the landscape so that all elements of the forest are retained at all times. For example, the streamside management zone is perhaps the most important landscape level strategy for protecting biodiversity. A "reserve zone" is an area where no active management occurs whereas a "management zone" is an area where management does occur, but with special consideration for the stream or river. Another feature that can be employed are interconnected corridors of forest that can be used to join streamside reserve zones.

Creating a set of enforceable forest regulations or Best Management Practices (BMP) for timber harvesting operations and implementing these practices is a challenge for the forest sector in Ukraine. Harvesting schedules should be based on the applications of modern mathematical programming techniques determined by site, the allowable cut and the cutting budget over multiple rotations or cutting cycles (Leuschner, 1990) - not strictly on economic needs. Another challenge is the adoption of environmentally sound timber harvesting practices better known as Low Impact Logging (LIL) or Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL).

Reduced Impact Logging

Although based on temperate timber harvesting practices widespread in industrialized countries, RIL is primarily associated with creating sustainable forest management conditions in tropical countries. However, with the current condition of SFM in the countries like Ukraine, Russia and other members of the former Soviet Union, the concept has come full circle and is also appropriate. Ukraine has had long tradition of forest stewardship, scientific forest management and innovation in forest engineering, but the lack of investment in the forest products sector, financial pressures, lack of private sector development and isolation from mainstream, progressive forest timber harvesting technology has had its impact. In many ways, the current timber harvesting practices have regressed in terms of efficiency, technology and resultant capabilities to implement proper silvicultural treatments without degrading the environmental conditions.

HiiyK'QBiiii bíchhk, 2004, BHn. 14.3

A cursory review of the development of RIL is important in the context of Ukraine's current crisis of illegal logging and poor timber harvesting practices. Around the same time of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development convened in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the first publications began appearing, in which the term "reduced impact logging" was used in the tropics (Putz and Pinard, 1993). For whatever reason, this term and its acronym "RIL" proved more widely acceptable than "environmentally sound timber harvesting," an alternative that was being promoted by the FAO Forestry Department (Dykstra and Heinrich, 1992) or the Tropical Forest Foundation's (TFF) related term "low-impact loogging."

According to Dykstra, the more neutral term reduced impact logging was picked up quickly and widely used, because the concept of forest management technologies that reduced logging impacts resonated not only with foresters but with environmentalist, the non-governement organizations (NGO) community and the general public. More importantly, perhaps, the concept also was supported by influential conservation and certification organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Forest Stewardship Council (Forest Stewardship Council, 2000) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a consequence, RIL became widespread and gained a legitimacy that foresters themselves could never have provided (Dykstra 2001).

In reality, RIL is not a new phenomenon, it is simply the transfer of well-established, acceptable technologies and harvesting practices developed in temperate forests to the tropics (Dykstra 2001). To a large extent, these RIL technologies are utilized as a matter of routine operations. In this sense, they represent nothing new. Nonetheless, the differences between industrialized countries with a developed forest product industry and countries with transition economies like Ukraine are substantial. Many of these RIL practices require significant adjustment in order to be, economically and technically viable. Like the tropics. however, protection of non-timber values in areas where local populations utilize NTFPs requires considerable evaluation and planning.

Just as important are the new application, new mindset and a new approach to RIL in SFM. In the current References, most discussions continue to relate RIL to tropical rather than temperate forest ecosystems. In the transition economy of Ukraine, pressure to exploit natural resources to generate income and lack of capital investments, the need of local populations for NTFP and the destruction of the infrastructure parallel the situation in developing countries. Fragile mountain soils and unstable slopes contribute to environmental degradation that impacts water quality, biodiversity and productivity of the site for commercial forestry.

According to the conceptual framework of RIL, sustainable forest management requires implementation of silvicultural practices that reduce the site disturbance caused by commercial timber harvesting. RIL is made up of three elements: planning, training and appropriate technology. Although it varies somewhat with the local situation, RIL generally requires the following:

• Pre-harvest inventory

• Pre-harvest planning of roads, skidtrails and landings to provide access to the harvest area while minimizing soil disturbance and protecting streams and waterways with appropriate crossings.

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• The use of appropriate felling and bucking techniques, including directional felling, cutting stumps low to the ground to avoid waste, and optimal crosscutting of tree stems into logs in a way that will maximize the recovery of useful wood.

• Construction of roads, landings and skidtrails so that they adhere to engineering and environmental design guidelines.

• Winching logs to planned skidtrails and ensuring that skidding machines remain on the skidtrails at all times.

• Where feasible, utilizing yarding systems that protect soils and residual vegetation by suspending logs above the ground.

• Conducting post-harvest assessments in order to provide feedback to the concession holder and logging crews and to evaluate the degree to which RIL guidelines were applied successfully (Dykstra, 2001)

Nearly all of these practices are common in temperate forests. Two that are not are: 1) the requirement for mapping individual crop trees and 2) the need for preharvest vine cutting. Forest products - both wood and non-timber products (NTFP) have become a vital source of income and subsistence for a large village population (about 15.7 million people or 31,5 % of the population), who live in close proximity to forests and whose livelihood or health depends upon them (Zibtsev, 2004). This indicates the importance of considering local populations and the potential impacts of logging on non-timber forest resources when planning forestry operations.

Functional Aspects of RIL Technology

Some aspects of RIL and its appropriateness in the Carpathian Mountains can be examined in detail:

Road Building. Forestry requires long-term planning and all permanent roads should be laid out for multiple entries into the stand; roads and log decks are considered to be permanent structure in forestry operations and are built to highest level for minimum disturbance. Building good principal roads is a time consuming and cost intensive operation. RIL road construction is kept narrow and based on slope and a general cartography of the site. Removing logs and other obstacles in skid roads is an important safety and efficient function.

In Ukraine, the investment in hard surface roads is still absent. In the Carpathian Mountains, the average density of road networks is 5.2 m/ha - about three-six times less than other forested countries of Europe. For the use of mobile cable equipment, the optimum road network should be no less than 16.5; therefore, it is necessary to build about 12,000 km of hard-surfaced roads. At the rate 2.5 km/100,000 m of timber/year, it will take 30 years to achieve these results (Styranivsky, 2002).

The central European concept that paved (asphalt) forest roads have the lowest maintenance, provide the best access and minimize erosion must be tempered with financial and environmental costs. There are inevitable trade offs - the value of gravel roads is often underestimated in terms of aesthetic value and eco-tourism needs for recreational access - horses, all terrain vehicles, (ATVs), mountain bikes, etc. Regardless, of what the road building activities are, they will have impact of on the environment particularly, wildlife habitat and water quality. Like the tropics, road building provides access to previously undeveloped areas resulting in

HiiyK'QBiiii BiCHHK, 2004, BHn. 14.3

settlement and land clearing. In the case of Ukraine, the consequences of unbridled capitalism and new land ownership patterns, are resulting in chaotic development of fragile mountain landscapes as evidenced in Slavsk and other recreation centers of the Carpathians (Bihun, personal observation, 2004).

RIL Costs. Proponents of RIL and "precision logging" argue that properly planned and supervised harvesting operations not only meet conditions for susta-inability but also reduce harvesting costs by a substantial margin as compared to conventional logging. The cost benefit analysis is really the selling factor of the project and may eventually bring industry on board. According to Johan Zweede's work with the TTF in Brazil, twice as much area has to be cleared for roads landings and skid trails in conventional operations and costs 5-10 % more that RIL logging (Bihun, 1999). "We can build and clear a compact log landing in 15 minutes while it would take a average crew over two hours," claims Zweede. According to TFF calculations, "If you factor in the amount of wood wasted - as much as 4 m per hectare - the total cost can be as much as 25-30 % higher for commercial logging. Loggers stand a lot to may lose and that is not even taking into account the cost of maintaining machinery," concludes Zweede.

Other RIL researchers claim contradictory results. Research conducted by in two tropical countries Guyana and Cameroon reveal that this concept is not always fully applicable and does not always lead to less damage than conventional logging practices. Although RIL is a great step forward, silvicultural, ecological, and sociological considerations need to be added to this technical concept in order to better meet the demands of SFM (Van der Hout, 2001)

Even in developed industrialized countries, RIL is not without detractors. In North America, loggers and foresters tend to believe that environmentally sound harvesting at a cost that will permit an economically viable forest industry is not realistic. In dealing with loggers, foresters have been conditioned to accept poor logging practices because the alternative does not seem feasible. In addition, conventional wisdom holds that any environmental protection will be time consuming and always costs more, so it is generally assumed that RIL will be more costly than conventional logging (Dykstra, 2001).

The Reduced-Impact Logging SIMulator (RILSIM) is a relatively new computer software package designed to permit users to rapidly short-term financial costs and returns between RIL and convention logging under identical site conditions (Dykstra, 2002). The RILSIM technology was designed and tested primary for tropical environments but a comparitive analysis and trial application in the mountain forests of the Ukrainiana Carpathians may be useful to determine what aspects of RIL can applied to site specific conditions.

Training and Supervision. The challenge, however, is that these cost savings are due to better planning, equipment better supervisory control and better utilization of felled timber. To obtain these savings, therefore, it is necessary to have well-trained, technically competent planners, loggers and supervisors (Dykstra 2001).

One of the most critical requirements for the successful application of RIL on a widescale basis in the mountain forests of Ukraine is the availability of skilled logging personnel at all levels who understand both why and how to carry out RIL.

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The education and training of loggers, planners and supervisors requires intensive, coordinated efforts on the part of government agencies, development-assistance organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

Improving harvest recovery. Regardless of the type of logging equipment used, the amount of merchantable wood recovered from forest harvesting can be improved by reducing wood residues at all stages of production, from felling to skidding to transportation and final processing. Improved utilization of small diameter material, lesser-used species and slash has tremendous potential for reducing the area of forest disturbed annually through timber harvesting. Dykstra and Heinrich (1997) argue that improved utilization in most situations should reduce harvesting cost.

Harvesting Equipment and Timber Transport Machinery. One of the greatest challenges to sustainable timber harvesting in the mountains of western Ukraine is the lack of site specific skidding and yarding equipment on steep terrain. Approximately 49 % of the logging is still done with Soviet-style track vehicles (tractors) that cause major site disturbance and erosion. The resultant damage to existing roads and streambeds will result in a loss of productivity and damage to vehicles. Track vehicles have their place on level and moderate slopes but conventional wisdom dictates that tractors should be restricted to flat, dry ground. Initiatives from foresters, the academic community and Committee of Forestry are proposing the phasing out of tractors by 2005 (Bybliuk, 2001).

Cable or grapple skidders are the working timber yarding technology in most industrialized countries but are virtually absent in Ukraine 's upland forests. Rubber-tired skidders in conjunction with a cable winch and arch minimize soil compaction and scarification since the front end of the log is lifted off the ground. RIL often restricts cables leads to excessive dragging distances such as 1200 m -far above the reasonable limits - to 500 m. Due to the lack of investment, modern equipment and alternative machinery is uanavalable or limited.

RIL enforces directional felling and bucking to minimize residual damage and facilitate skidding. Improper cross-cutting or bucking reduces the maximum value of the log. If possible, whole-tree logging is avoided on steep slopes and logs are cut to length not skidded tree length. The use of horses and sleds in the winter is appropriate technology that is still widespread for villagers and small-scale operations. These approriate technologies should be encouraged and even expanded in community-based forestry operations and under the right site conditons.

By adhering to the above requirements for RIL practices, virtually any type of logging machinery can reduce impacts as long as the operation is properly controlled and supervised. But it must be recognized that there is an optimal logging system for any given situation, and that a low-impact system in one situation might become a high-impact system in another situation (Dykstra, 2001). More than 80 % of the logging in the Carpathian moutains forests relies on ground-based skidding machines on steep (>20°) and very slopes (>30°) and under such conditions, the environmental impacts associated with ground skidding are often unaccep-tably high. (Styranivsky, 2002).

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Aerial logging alternatives such as cable systems and helicopters can reduce direct impacts associated with ground disturbance during logging substantially, and because of their extended yarding capabilities can also reduce the density of haul roads needed to support logging operations. As most soil erosion associated with logging operations can be traced directly to roads and skidtrails, reducing the density of this infrastructure will lessen stream sedimentation and all its related offsite impacts. In Ukraine, unfortunately, the number of cable systems is inadequate and has decreased dramatically since in the last two decades (Bybliuk, 1998). Helicopters are rare because they require a large capital investment and highly skilled crews with specialized knowledge which are in scarce supply.

New technologies in final felling and timber transport like aerial systems, harwarders (Andersson, 2003) or combining harvesters with cable logging systems (Stampfer, 2002) have potential to be utilized on the steep slopes of the eastern Carpathians. The use of forwarders for short logs combined with other timper transport methods should be evaluated on moderate slopes. After more than fifteen years of decline, the wood processing industry in Ukraine is recovering but opportunities in the timber harvesting sector will not improve without significant re-investment by the governement, international donor agencies, and the private sector.

Decision Support Systems and Tools

Planning SFM and timber harvsting is rapidly changing and the key to future forestry operations in Ukraine. Advanced inventory systems, computer-based mapping, skid trail alyout and analysis tools are still lacking but incorporation of this technolgy is on the rise. The integration of Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) and Geografic Inforamtion Systems (GIS) are being used in Slovakia and other parts of Eastern Europe (Tucek, 2002). GIS technoligies are being implemented, at least on an experimental basis, on moderate slopes in the Ukrainian Carpathians (Styranivsky, 2002). These are powerful tools and access is increasingly available. The ease of use and decreasing costs of hand held equipment such as Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) and digital data collectors are making inroads into natural resource managment. The Ukrainian forest engieneering sector has the intellectual capacity to utilize these tools - and even provide significant innoviations in this technology - but without support form the government and forest industry, Ukraine will continue to lag behind in the adoption of ths state-of-the-art technology.

Conclusions

RIL is not a new concept because its technologies are generally well understood from many years of application in temperate and boreal forests. However, it can be perceived as both new and different because of important dissimilarities between conventional logging under current limitations and economic pressures in the transition countries of Eastern Europe. RIL is an evolving model - labor costs change, logging technology changes, the industrial demand changes and environmental perspectives change. Hence, foresters and logging engineers have to stay current and to have a lasting impact. Harvesting forests requires a new attitude by forest managers, logging operators; a new approach to SFM that recognizes the non-commodity values of the forests and the costs of environmental degradation on long-term productivity.

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Local populations rely on firewood and non-timber forest products, watersheds must be protected to protect water quality and decrease the impact of catastrophic flooding. with poor roads and lack of roads, uncontrolled developed and aesthetically poor logging methods can impede the potential of eco-tourism development in the Carpathians. The new approach will have to recognize that forests are places where people depend upon the forest for their livelihoods and their well-being. The new approach will also have investments in the forest sector to provide effective training for forest managers and logging personnel if RIL is ever to become a widespread reality in the mountain forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The RIL prototype is a good model to adapt to local conditions and the key to transforming the poor logging practices and slowing degradation of mountain forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians.

References

1. Andersson, Jonny and Lars Eliasson. 2003. Effects on Three Harvesting Methods on Harwarder Productivity in Final Felling. Proceedings from The 2nd Forest Engineering Conference; 12-15 May 2003, Vaxjo, Sweden. Skodofrsk; Uppsala, Sweden, pp, 11-14.

2. Bihun, Y. M. 1999. Low Impact Logging in the Eastern Amazon. TTJ International Timber & Wood Products. (389)6332: 37-40.

3. Bybliuk, N. 2001. History of Hutsulschyna. Volume VI. "Iinfluence of Land Use Practices on the Environment and Methods to Diminish Their Impacts." Hutsul Research Institute, Lviv; pP. 553-570.

4. Bybliuk, Nestor & Bubliuk M. 1998. Ecological Aspects of Mountain Logging. Volume II. Schevchenko Scientific Society. pP. 586-600.

5. Dykstra, D.P. & Heinrich, R. 1992. Sustaining Tropical Forests through Environmentally Sound Timber Harvesting Practices. Unasylva 169: 9-15.

6. Dykstra, D.P. & Heinrich, R. 1996. FAO Model Code of Forest Harvesting Practice. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

7. Dykstra, D.P. & Heinrich, R. 1997. Forest Harvesting and Transport: Old Problems, New Solutions. Keynote presentation for Session 14 (Forest Harvesting and Transport) at the World Forestry Congress, Antalya, Turkey, 13-22 October 1997. Proceedings Vol. 3, pP. 171-186.

8. Enters T, and P.B. Durst et al Eds. 2002. Dykstra D.P. Reduced -Impact Logging: Concepts and Issues. In Applying Reduced Impact Logging to Advance Sustainable Forest Management International Conference Proceedings 26 February -1 March 2001, Kuching, Malaysia. FAO, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand; pp 34-50.

9. Enters T, and P.B. Durst et al Eds. 2002. Van der Hout, P. and G.J.R. van Leersum. 2001. Reduced Impact Logging: A Global Panacea? Comparison of Two Logging Studies. In Applying Reduced Impact Logging to Advance Sustainable Forest Management, International Conference Proceedings 26 February -1 March 2001, Kuching, Malaysia. FAO, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand.

10. Dykstra, D.P. 2003. RILSIM: A Financial Simulation Modeling System for Reduced-Impact Logging. Proceedings from The 2nd Forest Engineering Conference; 12-15 May 2003, Vaxjo, Sweden. Skodofrsk; Uppsala, Sweden, pp, 12-21.

11. FAO 1993a. The challenge of sustainable forest management: What future for the world's forests? Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

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14. FSC. 1994, revised 2000. FSC Principles and Criteria. Forest Stewardship Council, Oaxaca, Mexico. Available at http://www.fscoax.org/principal.htm.

15. Leuschner, William E. 1990. Forest Regulation, Harvest Scheduling and Planning Techniques. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; New York. 281 pp.

16. Putz, F.E. & Pinard, M.A. 1993. Reduced-impact Logging as a Carbon-Offset Method. Conservation Biology; 7(4): 755-757.

Науковий вкчшк', 2004, вип. 14.3

17. Stampfer K. 2002. Combining Harvester with Cable Yarders on Steep Terrain Thinning Operations. Proceedings of the International Seminar on New Roles of Plantation Forestry Requiring Appropriate Tending and Harvesting Operations; Septement 29-October 5, 2002; Tokyo, Japan. pP. 66-72.

18. Styranivsky, O. 2002. Operational Planning Technologies of Wood Extraction Under Moutnain Conditons of Ukraine. Proceedings of the International Seminar on New Roles of Plantation Forestry Requiring Appropriate Tending and Harvesting Operations; Septement 29-October 5, 2002; Tokyo, Japan. pP. 192-203.

19. Tucek, J., Jozef Suchomel and Erich Pacola. 2002. Possibilities for SDSS Using in Forestry - Focus on Forest Roads Location and Technologies Planning. Proceedings of the Internaiti-onal Seminar on New Roles of Plantation Forestry Requiring Appropriate Tending and Harvesting Operations; Septement 29-October 5, 2002; Tokyo, Japan. pP. 113-128.

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20. Zibtsev, S. and V. Sviridenko, E. Kremenetska and O. Tokareva. 2004. Monitoring of the Structure and Phytodiversity of a 160-year-old Natural Scots Pine Forest in the Central Polissi-ya Region of Ukraine. Document in preparation for Proceedings from the International Conference and Excursion. Muckachevo, Transcarpathia, Ukraine. Natural Forests in the Temperate Zone of Europe - Values of and Utilsation. Swiss Federal Research Institute (WSL), Birmensdorf.

УДК 630.33 1нж. O.I. ГОЛУБЧАК1 - Заслужений лiсiвник Украти;

проф. 1.Ф. КАЛУЦЬКИЙ2, д-р с.-г. наук - Прикарпатський ун-т

M. Василя Стефаника

ЕКОЛОГГЧШ ПРОБЛЕМИ Л1С1В 1ВАНО-ФРАНК1ВЩИНИ

Окреслено актуальш еколопчш проблеми прських лiсiв Карпатського регюну та HaMi4eHO шляхи i'x виршення.

Eng. O.I. GOLUBCHAK; Prof. I.F. KALUTSKY - Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian

University

Ecological problems of mountain forests in Ivano-Frankivsk region

In the article the actual ecological problems of mountain forests in the Carpathians region are discussed and ways of their decision are planed.

Анал1з результат негативного впливу людини на навколишне сере-довище в р1зних природних умовах свщчить, що прсью регюни в цьому вщ-ношенш надзвичайно вразливь Як вщомо, на земнш кул1 прсью системи займають близько 50 % висотою понад 500 м н.р.м. i 28 % висотою понад 1000 м. Звичайно, в горах динамiчнiше вщбуваються й геохiмiчнi процеси.

Прсью ландшафти порiвняно з рiвнинними вщзначаються рiзноманiт-шшими еколопчними умовами, що впливае на темп еволюци i багатство ix оргашчного свггу. Тому гори завжди характеризуються своерщною флорою i фауною, серед яких, внаслщок географiчноi iзольованостi, чимало релiктовиx i ендемiчниx видiв. Потрiбно зазначити, що взаемозв'язки мiж компонентами прських екосистем набагато складшш^ шж у рiвнинниx умовах.

Питання охорони життевого середовища та рацiонального його вико-ристання, збереження i збагачення природних ресурЫв з кожним роком все

1 Начальник 1вано-Франшвського обласного управлшня люового господарства (Chief of the Ivano-Francivsk regional management of forestry)

2 Завщувач кафедри екологи та рекреацй' Прикарпатського унiверситету ím. В. Стефаника (Head of the department of ecology and recreation V. Stefanyk University)

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