International Forest Engineering ResearchInternational Forest Engineering Research

International Forest Engineering Institute (IFEI) and Timber Harvesting Workshops

Reduced Impact Timber Harvesting and Achieving Sustainable Forestry Development in Progress

Decision Framework for the Implementation of Appropriate Logging Techniques in Ethiopia and Rural South Africa

Department of Forest Engineering

Broad problem and relevanceBroad problem and relevance • Increasing human populations assert

pressure on the forestlands for products and land.

• Improvements in forest harvesting practices are one step towards decreasing environmental degradation and while maximizing the value of forest products.

• Appropriate logging technologies abound, but are not often implemented on the ground.

• Why are improved methods being missed in the decision making process?

• What improvements can appropriate technology make to planning reduced impact logging operations?

• What decisions must managers and policy makers weigh when deciding to widely implement RIL methods?

Research ObjectivesResearch Objectives • Investigate and identify the constraints and

the appropriate planning and operations technologies pertinent to successful methods improvement implementation.

• Implement small-scale case studies of applied improved methods at field sites in South Africa and Ethiopia associated with:

• Plantation Forests

• Natural Forests

• Rural Contractors

• Populate decision framework from case study experiences, research, and models

• Test framework in an additional study location.

CASE STUDIES AND PROJECT CASE STUDIES AND PROJECT OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

South Africa South Africa –– Eastern Cape Eastern Cape • Support from the University of Fort Hare,

Department of Agriculture, Animal Traction Center

• Sites located in former homeland area with significant unemployment and few economic opportunities

• Forest base in privatization process but currently managed as the Katburg Plantation managed by DWAF

Khatala Forest ProductsKhatala Forest Products • Small scale empowerment enterprise

• In operation for 5 years – moving towards employee owned “trust”

• Products include factory built building panels for sheds and housing, fencing, lattice work, and garden furniture

Logging Contractor EmpowermentLogging Contractor Empowerment • Currently manages/performs all harvesting

• Uses a crew of

• Two fallers

• Three Mules each with a two person handling team

• Four labors for skidding and loading

• Production of 20 to 30 m3 per day

South Africa ProjectSouth Africa Project • Business and operations planning process

for rural practitioner to become an independent contractor

• Utilize appropriate and reduced impact logging techniques for plantation forest harvesting

• Improved animal traction implements and training

• Funding, reinvestment, and future development

• Test case for wider implementation in the rural areas bordering the forest

EthiopiaEthiopia • Debub University – Wondo Genet College

of Forestry

• USAID Project and MOU with OSU

• Visiting Professors and Scholars to OSU

• Additional support and collaboration with Eth iop ian Agr icu l ture Research Organization.

Shashemene Wood EnterpriseShashemene Wood Enterprise • One of only a few forest industries in

Ethiopia

• Established with expatriate assistance

• Plantation forestry

• Assistance on this project from

• Head Office

• Logging Personnel

• Contract Loggers

Ethiopian ProjectEthiopian Project • Develop and apply appropriate timber

harvesting improvements to existing situation

• Solutions should address full range of sustainability concepts

• Socially responsible and acceptable

• Environmentally sensitive

• Economically efficient

• Establish decision framework that will assist others in further implementation

Work CompletedWork Completed • Time and motion study of current operation

• GPS data collection and GIS map development

• Collaboratively developed an “improved”

plan

• Discussed reasoning and justification for changes

• Field layout of plan with Logging Personnel

• Continued data collection required

SynthesisSynthesis • Case study experiences populate the

decision framework for implementing appropriate technology in timber harvesting

• Decision framework is designed to provide comprehensive assistance in making decisions to incorporate improved methods

For Further Information please contact:

Ben SpongBen Spong Department of Forest EngineeringDepartment of Forest Engineering Oregon State UniversityOregon State University 215 Peavy Hall215 Peavy Hall Corvallis, OR 97331Corvallis, OR 97331 ben.spong@oregonstateben.spong@oregonstate.edu.edu

The Global Need for Forest EngineeringThe Global Need for Forest Engineering • Increasing population and higher world

wood consumption • Shrinking natural forest resource base • Crucial need for harmony between

sustainable forest production and a healthy environment

• Declining forest engineering/operations educational programs in North America;

• FE is rare or non-existent in many countries around the world

• Currently a global shortage of people with necessary knowledge and skills to conduct forest operations that are: o environmentally sound o technically feasible o economically viable o socially acceptable

The RoleThe Role of IFEI of IFEI Provide fundamental education and applications to achieve reduced impact timber harvesting and sustainable forest resource management in both developed and developing countries worldwide.

Benefits:Benefits: • Ensure that global harvesting practices

preserve natural resources and environmental quality

• Fill knowledge and skills gap for operational planning/management

• Assist countries/organizations/industry toward forest certification

• Extend latest international research to people involved in forest operations

• Strengthen partnerships between universities, the private sector, foreign ministries, government and non government organizations

IFEI OverviewIFEI Overview IFEI is a comprehensive outreach education graduate level certificate program in timber harvesting and sustainable forest management, currently under development at OSU. It will include six modules. Each module is being designed so it can either “stand-alone” or be combined with others to complete the certificate program (e.g. at least 4 IEFI modules & completion of a comprehensive harvesting planning project). Modules are also being designed so they can be delivered at different locations and institutions worldwide.

Target Audience:Target Audience: • Forest resource managers and planners • Timber harvesting supervisors • People involved in monitoring or

assessing forest operations • Educators

IFEIIFEI Curriculum Curriculum Instruction on FE principles and applications with examples/demonstrations of current forestry issues.Instruction emphasizes practical as well as theoretical aspects of safe, economical, environmentally and socially acceptable forest harvesting operations.

ModuleModule I: Timber Harvesting Systems I: Timber Harvesting Systems and Planning for Sustainable Forest and Planning for Sustainable Forest ManagementManagement

• Appropriate timber harvesting technology o Capabilities and limitations

• Planning: o Tactical and long-term o Operational and Project level o Implementation and monitoring

• Logging Safety • Forest operation linkages with other

forest resource and management systems

ModuleModule II: Transportation Systems II: Transportation Systems Planning and Forest Road ManagementPlanning and Forest Road Management

• Forest transportation network analysis o Transportation alternatives o Road standards & hauling seasons o Wood transfer locations

• Harvest scheduling for multiple forest resource objectives and multiple time periods

• Forest road management objectives o Location and Design o Construction and Maintenance o Deactivation

ModuleModule III: Forest Soils and Hydrology III: Forest Soils and Hydrology • Basic soil properties and principles of

surface erosion and mass soil movement • Interpretations for harvest planning and

management use • Principles of watershed processes and

forest sustainability • Stream area management • Timber harvesting and road affects on

soil and water resources • Using proper planning to reduce and

mitigate the impact of forest operations

ModuleModule IV: IV: Forest Operations Forest Operations Economics, Wood Supply Chain Analysis Economics, Wood Supply Chain Analysis and Sustainable Management Issuesand Sustainable Management Issues

• Role of economics in decision making: o Major cost centers o Factors that influence costs o Costing and economic analysis

technique • Project scheduling and management • Worker selection, designed training and

motivation concepts • Policy development and implementation

related to forest engineering technology

ModuleModule V: V: Plantation Forestry Operations Plantation Forestry Operations in Developing Countriesin Developing Countries

• Aimed at an international audience of people involved in forest operations

• Plantation and natural forest management

• Temperate and tropical forests • Reduced Impact Logging

For More Information please contact:

Loren KelloggLoren Kellogg Department of Forest EngineeringDepartment of Forest Engineering Oregon State UniversityOregon State University 215 Peavy Hall215 Peavy Hall Corvallis, OR 97331Corvallis, OR 97331 loren.kellogg@oregonstateloren.kellogg@oregonstate.edu.edu

SALHI WorkshopsSALHI Workshops The OSU Dept. of Forest Engineering is collaborating with the USDA, Forest Service Timber Sale Layout and Harvesting Institute (SALHI), and the University of Idaho, Dept. of Forest Products to offer two workshops on timber harvest planning. Workshop 1: Skyline and Helicopter Logging Systems Design and Planning for Efficiency and Safety

• Dates: March 29-April 9, 2004 • Registration Deadline: March 15, 2004 • Location: Oregon State University Corvallis, OR, USA

Workshop 2: Ground-Based Logging Systems Design and Planning for Efficiency and Safety

• Dates: May10-14, 2004 • Registration Deadline: April 15, 2004• Location: University of Idaho Moscow, ID, USA

The above workshops on timber harvesting systems will qualify for future credit toward completing the IFEI certificate program.

Workshop DesignWorkshop Design Course topics are presented through detailed classroom instruction, field demonstrations and exercises. The workshop information is pulled together through the participants’ completion of harvest project plans for skyline, helicopter and ground-based harvesting systems. In the OSU skyline/helicopter workshop, participants obtain hands-on experience in skyline corridor layout, rigging of skyline tailtrees & intermediate supports, and applications of cable yarding techniques to minimize residual stand damage.

For Further Information and/or registrationplease see the website:

http://ifei.cof.orst.eduhttp://ifei.cof.orst.edu

and Extension Education Work in Progressand Extension Education Work in Progress

Dr. Loren Kellogg, Professor of Forest Engineering Ben Spong, Graduate Research Assistant

Department of Forest Engineering Oregon State University 215 Peavy Hall Corvallis, OR 97331

Phone: (541) 737-4952 Fax: (541) 737-4316 Website: www.cof.orst.edu/cof/fe