Estimating Availability of Logging Residue using Forest Management Data at Aggregated Stands of the Takahara Area of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Year 2015, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 69 - 83, 31.12.2015

Kazuhiro Aruga Ryo Uemura

Abstract

With the endpoint of
securing a steady supply of logging residue, this study projects the supply
potential and availability of logging residue by using 2005–2011 forest
management records and 2012–2016 forest management plans for the Takahara area of
Tochigi prefecture, Japan. Forest management plans do not list thinning methods
(such as those of a precommercial or commercial variety); therefore, the
relationship between stand ages and commercial thinning operation rates is
analyzed using forest management records, and commercial thinning rates are
estimated with stand ages. Trends vis-à-vis supply potential and logging
residue availability between 2005 and 2016 are examined: the supply potential
of logging residue from precommercial thinning operations significantly
increased between 2009 and 2010, on account of a new tax levied in April 2008;
on the other hand, a steady supply of logging residue is projected by using
forest management plans. In forest management plans, it is assumed that
precommercial and commercial thinning operations are conducted within the same
subcompartments. Therefore, the profitability of subcompartments can be
improved with commercial thinning operations, and the available logging residue
amounts from precommercial thinning operations are estimated in forest
management plans. Meanwhile, no available logging residue amounts from
precommercial thinning operations are estimated through the use of forest
management records. The available logging residue amounts of aggregated stands
are increased; by aggregating stands, the stand areas can be increased to more
than 6 ha and be made profitable, even with longer forwarding distances.

Keywords

Available amount, Forest management plan, Forest management record, Logging residue, Subsidy, Supply potential

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