• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.230-238
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• 2015

This study was analyzed the operational cost of logging and chipping operations in order to develop the efficient logging operation system for the utilization of forest-biomass. Analysis of the operational cost of logging operation systems, the operation system D which include chain saw, tower-yarder, mini-forwarder and truck was calculated the lowest cost to be $68,498Won/m^3$. In the utilization of forest-biomass, the operation system E which include chipping by mini-chipper at the site, forwarding of chips by mini-forwarder, transportation of chips by truck was estimated to be 90,770 Won/Ton. Thus, These results are determined as an effective operating system for logging operation and the utilization of forest-biomass.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.372-379
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• 1994

Timber harvesting impacts on soil microbial populations and respiration rates were examined in naturally regenerating trembling aspen(Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands on two contrasting soils, an Omega loamy sand (sandy mixed, frigid Typic Udipsamment) and an Ontonagon clay loam (very fine, mixed Glossic Eutroboralf). Five timber harvesting disturbances were simulated during winter of 1990 and spring of 1991, including commercial whole-tree harvesting(CWH), winter logging trail+CWH, logging slash removal+CWH(LSR), forest floor removal+LSR(FFR), and spring compaction+FFR. Regardless of soil types, total soil respiration rates of each stand decreased slightly or remained the same after harvesting while microbial population increased progressively during the first two years following harvesting. Microbial populations increased more rapidly and constantly at the sandy site than at the clayey site, which may indicate that the soil physical and chemical conditions changed more drastically for microbial activity following timber harvesting at the sandy site than at the clayey site. However, two kinds of treatment applications-three levels of organic matter removal and two levels of compaction-did not result in significant differences in microbial population or total soil respiration rate at each site during the first two post-harvest years. Total soil respiration of the aspen stands, sum of root respiration and microbial respiration, was a poor index for the microbial activity in this study because aspen kept an active root system for the successive root-sprouts even after harvesting, which resulted in a large portion of root respiration in total respiration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.450-458
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• 1997

It is inadequate to compare operating costs between some logging machines with a low rate of utilization of them except the effect of operating time. The operating volume to maximize the utilization of the logging machines is different from each other, thus it is important to choose the proper logging machines and operating system according to the size of logging management. This study presents one of the methods to choose the economical optimum logging machines according to the operating volume to promote the economical efficiency of the machines. In order to go ahead with the Korean forestry mechanization plan, it should be considered which machine or operating system has the economical priority and if it can be suitable to the effect of wage increment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.3
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• pp.405-417
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• 2019

We analyzed the profitability of Korea's forestry by evaluating stumpage prices of the main economic tree species. Stumpage prices are evaluated with a market value formula, subtracting logging and transporting costs from market prices of logs. If trees are sold at the current cutting age, the stumpage price of larch is about 4.5 million KRW per hectare and that of Korean pine is about 3.7 million KRW per hectare. The stumpage prices do not cover reforestation cost, which is about 6.1 million KRW per hectare. If government subsidies did not support the cost of reforestation and silviculture, there would be no profits at all. The cost of forestry is very high in terms of planting and silviculture. In the future, the prices of logs are not predicted to rise and the wages for labor are not predicted to fall. Without reforming the current forestry regime, Korean forestry is, thus, not sustainable. Therefore, low-cost forestry efforts like natural regeneration should be adopted to make forestry viable. Investments in forestry infrastructure like forest roads are also required to decrease the timber logging and transporting costs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 1996

The applications of multiple criteria decision making(MCDM) methods were investigated to determine the priority order in forest road construction for timber harvesting and silvicultrual activities in 22 regions. In this paper, MCDM methods have five methods from two kinds of models. The one is non-compensatory preference model including maximin and maximax method; the other is compensatory preference model including simple additive weighting method(SAW), hierarchical additive weighting method(HAW) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS), SAW and TOPSIS methods turned out to be the most adequate for forest road construction priority order among the five methods tested in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.106 no.2
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• pp.204-212
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• 2017

Soil disturbance caused by timber harvesting is widely recognized as a potential threat to forest utilization. The degree and extent of soil disturbance is believed to vary with respect to harvesting methods and logging machines. This study has conducted to assess the degree of soil disturbance associated with ground-based cut-to-length (GC) and cable yarding with whole tree (CW) harvesting methods. Soil disturbance was classified using a visual assessment of harvest unit. The properties of soils in different disturbance levels were also evaluated to understand the influence of timber harvesting on soil structure with soil core sampling method. The deep disturbance and soil compaction were observed in sites by 48% and 23% through harvesting areas for GC and CW logging methods, respectively. The results showed that logging machine and number of machine passage had significant influences on soil bulk density and porosity. Soil disturbance types such as rutted, slash cover, and compact were influenced by equipment travel trends in a GC method.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2003

This study was aimed at suggest a proper logging method of mountain forest using geographic information system(GIS) based on digital terrain model(DTM) in the National Forest at Mt. Kumsan in Namhae-gun, Gyungsangnam-do, which has about 2,948 ha in area. The areal percentage of 201 to 250m in the elevation was about 15.5%, elevation of 251 to 300m was 14.5%, and 78.75% for higher than 400m. The accumulated areal percentage of below 30% in the gradient was 17.2%, and 81.0% for steeper than 60%. The area for tractor skidding was 17.2%(511.7ha), the area for tractor attached winch skidding was 63.8%(1,896.3ha) and 18.4%(545.5ha) for cable yarding. It is important to choose the proper logging machines for timber harvesting. In general, the selection of logging operation system was affected several major environmental factors like as terrain conditions(slope gradient, slope length) and stand factors. The rate of middle slope gradients in terrain conditions showed higher than that of steep slope gradients in this area. Therefore, it considered that the logging operation system in this area could apply to tractor+winch operating machine according to terrain conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to broaden our knowledge on the productivity and costs of felling operation in three different harvesting methods(whole tree, tree-length and cut-to-length). Felling was conducted in three different harvesting methods with two workers who have different work experiences. Worker A and B have had felling experiences for about 5 years and 15 years, respectively. Felling productivity in whole tree method was $10.3m^3/SMH$ for worker A and $12.7m^3/SMH$ for worker B. Felling costs for worker A and B were $2,066won/m^3$ and $2,201won/m^3$, respectively. Although felling productivity of worker B in whole tree method was higher than worker A, felling costs of worker A were similar to worker B because the wage of worker B was more expensive than the wage of worker A (p>0.05). In tree-length method, felling cost of worker B were cheaper than that of worker A. Felling productivity and cost in tree-length method were $2.2m^3/SMH$ and $9,890won/m^3$ for worker A and $3.3m^3/SMH$ and $8,459won/m^3$ for worker B, respectively (p<0.05). In cut-to-length method, felling productivity and cost were $2.3m^3/SMH$ and $9,584won/m^3$ for worker A and $3.0m^3/SMH$ and $9,395won/m^3$ for worker B, respectively. Felling productivity of worker B was higher than that of worker A(p>0.05). Our preliminary results found that harvesting methods and worker's experiences highly affect on the productivity and costs of felling operations. These results should be useful for forest managers when planning cost-effective harvesting operations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2015

The purpose of study was to broaden our knowledge on the productivity and cost of thinning operations which has become increasingly practiced in Korea. The thinning operations were conducted in a 40-year old larch (Larix leptolepis) stand, including chainsaw felling and processing at the stump, followed by yarding tree-length logs using a Koller K301-4 tower yarder. The logs were further processed and sorted into 1.8 m and 3.6 m log piles at the landing. We used a standard time study method to evaluate key variables that affect the productivity of thinning operations. The total stump-to-pile operational cost was $41,707won/m^3$. The highest cost activity was the yarding phase which cost $20,083won/m^3$ (48.2% of the total cost), followed by the costs of processing treelength materials into marketable log lengths ($12,143won/m^3$; 29.1%), and then by the costs of sorting/piling the processed logs ($5,039won/m^3$; 12.1%). It was interesting to see that felling and processing trees at the stump had low costs at $1,315won/m^3$ (3.2%) and $3,127won/m^3$ (7.5%), respectively. We used the detailed time study data to develop regression equations which were to predict yarding productivity. Our analysis showed that harvesting system cost was highly sensitive to the number of logs, yarding distance and lateral distance per turn, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.3
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• pp.300-312
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• 2020

The growing stocks of young forests that are less than10 years of age have been excluded from the Korean forest resource statistics, despite the existence of standing trees; however, sustainable forest management and carbon removals in the forestry section require complete information regarding forest resources. This study developed a method to estimate the growing stocks for young forests from National Forest Inventory (NFI) data. After reviewing previous research on growth characteristics for young forests, we conducted stem analysis of major species, and examined stand characteristics by site index, based on real yield tables. Our statistical analysis results showed that there were few standing trees with diameters at breast height (DBH) above 6 cm in young stands, and that it would have taken 12 years, on average, to reach 6 cm DBH. This suggests that mean tree height by diameter should be assessed at the root, in order to assess growing stocks for young stands through the NFI. Moreover, the database system should be improved to differentiate tree species, since diverse shrubs, including trees, have been surveyed.