Forest Operations on Sloping Land: Operating, Environmental and Safety Constraints

Journal: Forests
Guest Editors:  Prof. Dr. Raffaele Cavalli, Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry TESAF, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Dr. Andrew McEwan, Forestry and Wood Technology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Forest operations often need to take place on steep slopes. This is due to flatter land often being used for alternative land use, such as agriculture. Operating on steep slopes presents technology and management challenges. Harvesting machines and systems are subjected to harsher working conditions that affect machine reliability, resulting in mechanical breakdowns, and can also reduce machine productivity due to the need to overcome gravity during uphill operations and the need for slower operations when working on side slopes or down steep slopes, which affects machine stability. Human manoeuvrability can also increase the safety risk as machines can roll over and ground-based workers can struggle to carry out manual work safely. Environmental damage can also be a consequence, as harvesting machines can disturb soil, which can result in site erosion. Therefore, the correct technology must be applied according to the slope and soil conditions, and it needs to be operated according to good practice. This requires good planning as well as well trained and motivated employees. New technology can allow for forest operations to be cost effectively carried out on steep slopes while also minimising environmental impacts and reducing safety risks.

Deadline: 1 May 2021
Details: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/forests/special_issues/forests_operations