Efficiency Evaluation of Ground Skidding System and Determining the Optimum Forest Road Density in Caspian Forest (Northern Iran)

Abstract

Determining optim um forest road netw ork den sity is one of the most impor tant factors in sustainable forest
management. Logging method is an important factor in determin ing optimum road ne twork density. In th is research in
order to determine optimum ro ad network den sity, skidding cost and road construction cost we re ca lculated. Th e
optimum road network density was concluded at the lowest total costs (skidding and road construction costs). The results
showed that skidding costs was 6.27$/m3 and the road c onstruction cost was 21878$/km and that th e optimu m road
network density was between 7-10m/ha.