Mesut HASDEMIR Istanbul University Faculty of Forestry Department
Mesut HASDEMIR Istanbul University Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Construction and Transportation, 34473 Bahcekoy, Istanbul- Turkey E-mail: mesdemir@istanbul. edu. tr INTRODUCTION HARVESTING IN TURKISH FORESTRY New approach in the production of wood raw materials are ecofiriendly, low labor-intensive system and to obtain quality products. Traditional production techniques and technologies are still mostly used in Turkish forestry. The Turkish Forests covers 21. 7 million hectares which is 27. 6% of the country. These forests is constituted 11. 33 million hectares productive and 10. 36 million hectares unproductive forests. Annual production capacities are approximately 16. 6 million m³ industrial wood and 5. 0 million stere fuel wood from high quality forests and coppice forests, respectively. Overall ratio of mechanization is relatively low. Approximate percentages of handskidding, animalskidding, tractor logging, and cable harvesting are 72%, 15%, 6%, and 5%, respectively (Erdaş, 1993). These values also suggest that timber harvesting techniques in Turkey should be improved by mechanization. Today, mechanized timber harvesting is successfully used in many European countries and it increases both productivity and efficiency of total harvesting operation. Various parameters, namely road network, topography, raw material characteristics, market demand, labor cost, initial equipment cost, long and short term objectives should be analyzed to have mechanized harvesting procedure. Based on the above factors the for mechanized timber harvesting in Turkey was initiated in the form of distance winch skyline around 1949. However, these applications did not last for a long period of time due lack of well designed forest roads, ineffective administration, and poor technical organization (Hasdemir 1992). Therefore, the demands and conditions of the mechanization should be determined and implemented as soon as possible in Turkey. In this paper is to summarize usage of mechanization in extraction and problems of mechanized harvesting in Turkey. Approximately 75% of the forest areas are over 30% slope in Turkey. Primary transportation is moving timber from the harvesting site to the landing area. Cutting, bucking, skidding, landing, and unlanding are some of the major activities of primary transportation. Based on the results of several studies, non-mechanized(manual) cutting and skidding are relatively inefficient and more expensive than that of mechanized techniques. Primary transportation is generally 25 -50 percent of total cost of the harvesting activities (Aykut et all. 1997). Therefore, application of mechanization of skidding such as introduction of grapple skidder or using feller-buncher in cutting phase of harvesting will not only reduce total cost but also increase productivity. Some of the central European countries such as Germany, and Switzerland have been using tree height log cutting method with combination of mechanized harvesting techniques (Erdaş 1986). This would be applied to harvesting in Turkey as long as forest road conditions are improved. Otherwise application of mechanized harvest methods used in developed European countries may results in a certain adverse effect as total harvesting operation in terms of cost and using labor force. Log method mostly applied in forest harvesting in Turkey forests has steep terrain, but unfortunately the forest production machinery park is insufficient. Table 2: Number of Harvesting Machines in Turkish Forestry (GDF, 2015) Table 1: Distribution of Vehicles and Machines in Turkish Forestry (%) (GDF, 2015) Harvesting Machines MB Trac 900 Skidder Number Forklift 4 x 2 Tractor 4 x 4 Tractor Skidder Loader Skyline Fuel tanker Snow cleaning machine Snow blade Harvester Tree transplanter 33 264 246 70 112 21 3 2 10 Wood shelling machine 1 Total 765 HARVESTING PROBLEMS Harvesting plans are not made sufficiently in Turkhis forestry. Therefore, production machines can not be used effectively and efficiently. The type and amount of machines and work force does not correctly determine. Domestic production machinery industry is inadequate. These machines are mostly imported machines. Many of them have been modified. No importance is given to mechanization in Turkey. There are not enough trained staff in this area. Significance of mechanized timber harvesting was also emphasized in a symposium entitled “Mechanization of Forestry and its, Productivity” held in 1985 in Turkey. Current mechanized harvesting applications. New approaches were introduced at the above symposium. However there has been very little development in the area since then. Technical and administrative personnel do not importance to mechanization and their not have necessary training and experience. Another reason for the unadvanced of mechanization is cheap labor in Turkey. Mostly seasonal workers are employed. Environmentally sensitive production can not be made. Stands, soil and peysage are negatively affected by the traditional production methods. Occupational health and safety measures in forest production are insufficient in Turkey. REFERENCES Aykut, T. , Acar, H. , Şentürk, N. , 1997: A Research on the Comparison of K 300, Urus MIII and Gantner Forest Skyline Used Extraction in the Artvin Region. Journal of the Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University, Serie A, Volume 47, Issue 2, Istanbul. Erdaş, O. , 1993: Production raw wood in Turkey, Compared Problems Duiring Especially of Cutting, Extraction and Logging and Their Effects on the Forest Products Industry. Orenko 93, K. T. Ü. Forestry Faculty, Trabzon. GDF, 2015: The Forest of Turkey. The Publication of General Directorate of Forest. Ankara. Hasdemir, M. , 1992: The Importance of Mechanization in Harvesting. Journal of the Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University. Serie B, Volume 42, Issue 1 -2, p. 113 -116, Istanbul. URUS MIII Skyline Forlift Farm tractor Harvester RECOMMENDATION Production and operational plans should be made for all Turkey forests. And than the level of mechanization must be determined. The type and quantity of production machines should be determined according to the level of mechanization. Forestry directorate should train adequate technical and administrative staff. Also, necessary training should be given to forest workers. Domestic harvesting machinery industry mus be supported. Environmentally sensitive production should be done in a way that will not harm to stand , soil and landscape. All employees should be trained on occupational healt and safety measures.
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