Determining yield through a technical and economical method

Abstract

Forest planning has always considered only ecological and sylvicultural criteria. The proposed yield determination method is based on which forest system (both cutting and skidding) fits better when working inside a specific forest stand. Two types of working costs are defined: financial ones, linked to economical investments, and administrative/forest ones due to yard characteristics and daily use of machines. The difference between costs and gain gives as result the «minimum yield» which is the wood amount that allows forest operations to be economical. Using technical and economical criteria when planning forest yield should help improve the Italian wood supply chain and make it more efficient.