TY - JOUR TT - Analyses on Strip Road Networks and Profitability of Final Felling Operations Considering Regeneration Expenses at Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan AU - Aruga, Kazuhiro PY - 2016 DA - December JF - European Journal of Forest Engineering JO - Eur J Forest Eng PB - Forest Engineering and Technologies Platform WT - DergiPark SN - 2149-5637 SP - 74 EP - 81 VL - 2 IS - 2 KW - Economic balance KW - Final felling operation KW - Thinning operation KW - Site area KW - Road network density N2 - In this study, strip road networks of final felling operations wereinvestigated, and then, effects of areas and road network densities onoperational costs were analyzed. Finally, total revenues and costs during a55-year rotation were estimated and profitability of forest management duringthat rotation was examined. It was found that road network densities of finalfelling operations were significantly greater than those of thinning operationsbecause of avoiding residual tree damage in thinning operations and efficientbunching operations in final felling. Minimum operational expenses of finalfelling operations were less than those of thinning operations. Similar to thethinning operations, lower volumes and greater road network densities increasedoperational expenses; however, differences among minimum operational expensesof final felling operations with various volumes and road network densitieswere smaller than those of thinning operations. Site areas with minimumoperational expenses of final felling operations were smaller than those ofthinning operations. Final felling operations on smaller site areas would beenvironmentally friendly. Total revenues and costs during the 55-year rotationwere USD 77,591.60/ha and USD 73,030.24/ha, respectively. Therefore, economicbalance during the rotation was USD 4,561.36/ha. Because subsidies during therotation were USD 27,542.89/ha, economic balance during the rotation withsubsidies were USD 32,104.25/ha. However, economic balances reduced accordingto the reduced site index. This highlights the current situation in Japaneseforestry, in which many forest owners are unwilling to conduct regenerationoperations after final felling operations. CR - Aruga, K., Hiyamizu, G., Nakahata, C. and Saito, M., 2013a. Effects of aggregating forests, establishing forest road networks, and mechanization on operational efficiency and costs in a mountainous region in Japan. Journal of Forestry Research, 24: 747–754. CR - Aruga, K., Murakami, A., Nakahata, C., Yamaguchi, R., Saito, M. and Kanetsuki, K., 2013b. A model to estimate available timber and forest biomass and reforestation expenses in a mountainous region in Japan. Journal of Forestry Research, 24: 345–356. CR - Forestry Agency of Japan, 2013. 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