Evaluation of operating cost management models for selection cutting in Scandinavian continuous cover forestry

doi:10.3832/ifor4204-016

Evaluation of operating cost management models for selection cutting in Scandinavian continuous cover forestry

Simone Bianchi⁽¹⁾ , Anssi Ahtikoski⁽²⁾, Timo Muhonen⁽³⁾, Eero Holmström⁽¹⁾, Sauli Valkonen⁽¹⁾, Yrjö Nuutinen⁽³⁾

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 16, Issue 4, Pages 218-225 (2023)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor4204-016
Published: Aug 12, 2023 - Copyright © 2023 SISEF

Research Articles

PDF Version

Full Text

Citation

The importance of continuous cover forestry (CCF) is increasing, yet there is lack of data and understanding about many aspects of this management, including the operational costs. Our objectives were to retrieve available harvesting cost models from published studies on selection cutting in Norway-spruce-dominated stands in Scandinavian countries and to evaluate them against real case studies. First, we retrieved three recently published harvesting cost models which provided explicit cost functions. Models 1 and 2, based on rotation forestry (RF) data and adapted for CCF, had separate sub-models for cutting and hauling costs. Model 3 was based on CCF data and produced total harvesting costs, including the cutting and hauling costs combined. Second, we measured cutting costs for 29 harvesting operations on stands with different stages of CCF structure. We then compared the observations with the simulations of Models 1 and 2 cutting cost sub-models for those cases. Third, we expanded the dataset, including a further 34 harvesting operations in stands with more advanced CCF structures (without measured costs). We then simulated the total harvesting costs for all three models in this dataset to investigate their general behaviour. On average, Models 1 and 2 cutting cost sub-models had relatively good and consistent predictions compared with the observed values. However, they differed in total costs due to different estimates for the hauling cost sub-models. Model 3 had predictions comparable to Models 1 and 2 in the more advanced stages of CCF, but much higher in the less advanced. This study provides important data regarding cutting costs in CCF and demonstrates the feasibility of using existing harvesting cost models.

Keywords

Harvesting systems, Finland, Cutting costs, Norway spruce

Authors’ address

(1)

0000-0001-9544-7400

0000-0002-2879-4821
Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Helsinki (Finland)

(2)

0000-0003-1658-3813
Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Turku (Finland)

(3)

0000-0003-3360-4444
Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Joensuu (Finland)

Corresponding author

Simone Bianchi
simone.bianchi@luke.fi

Citation

Bianchi S, Ahtikoski A, Muhonen T, Holmström E, Valkonen S, Nuutinen Y (2023). Evaluation of operating cost management models for selection cutting in Scandinavian continuous cover forestry. iForest 16: 218-225. - doi: 10.3832/ifor4204-016

Academic Editor

Rodolfo Picchio

Paper history

Received: Aug 11, 2022
Accepted: Apr 09, 2023

First online: Aug 12, 2023
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2023
Publication Time: 4.17 months

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Breakdown by View Type

(Waiting for server response...)

Article Usage

Total Article Views: 12225
(from publication date up to now)

Breakdown by View Type
HTML Page Views: 10642
Abstract Page Views: 776
PDF Downloads: 697
Citation/Reference Downloads: 1
XML Downloads: 109

Web Metrics
Days since publication: 418
Overall contacts: 12225
Avg. contacts per week: 204.72

Article Citations

Article citations are based on data periodically collected from the Clarivate Web of Science web site
(last update: Feb 2023)

(No citations were found up to date. Please come back later)

(no Plumx Metrics available for this paper)

Publication Metrics

by Dimensions ^©

Articles citing this article

List of the papers citing this article based on CrossRef Cited-by.

(1)

Ahnlund Ulvcrona K, Bergström D, Bergsten U (2017)
Stand structure after thinning in 1-2 m wide corridors in young dense stands. Silva Fennica. 51.
Gscholar

(2)

Ahtikoski A, Siipilehto J, Salminen H, Lehtonen M, Hynynen J (2018)
Effect of stand structure and number of sample trees on optimal management for scots pine: a model-based study. Forests 9 (12): 750.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(3)

Aijälä O, Koistinen A, Sved J, Vanhatalo K, Väisänen P (2019)
Metsänhoidon suositukset [Best practices for forest management]. Tapio, Helsinki, Finland, pp. 181.
Online | Gscholar

(4)

Andreassen K, Oyen B-H (2002)
Economic consequences of three silvicultural methods in uneven-aged mature coastal spruce forests of central Norway. Forestry 75: 483-488.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(5)

Bergström D, Fernandez-Lacruz R, De la Fuente T, Höök C, Krajnc N, Malinen J, Nuutinen Y, Triplat M, Nordfjell T (2022)
Effects of boom-corridor thinning on harvester productivity and residual stand structure. International Journal of Forest Engineering 33 (3): 226-242.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(6)

Cajander AK (1949)
Forest types and their significance. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seuran Kirjapainon Oy, Helsinki, Finland, pp. 71.
Gscholar

(7)

Díaz-Yáñez O, Pukkala T, Packalen P, Peltola H (2019)
Multifunctional comparison of different management strategies in boreal forests. Forestry 93: 84-95.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(8)

Eliasson L, Lageson H, Valinger E (2003)
Influence of sapling height and temperature on damage to advance regeneration. Forest Ecology and Management 175: 217-222.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(9)

Eyvindson K, Duflot R, Triviño M, Blattert C, Potterf M, Mönkkönen M (2021)
High boreal forest multifunctionality requires continuous cover forestry as a dominant management. Land Use Policy 100: 104918.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(10)

Faehser L (1995)
Nature-oriented forestry in Luebeck. International Journal of Ecoforestry 11: 7-11.
Gscholar

(11)

Fjeld D (1994)
En sammenligningsstudie av tidsforbruk ved plukkhogst og småflatehogst med en en-greps hogstmaskin [Time consumption for selection and patch cutting with a one-grip harvester]. Commun Skogforsk 47: 1-27. [in Finnish]
Gscholar

(12)

Fjeld D, Granhus A (1998)
Injuries after selection harvesting in multi-stored spruce stands - The influence of operating systems and harvest intensity. Journal of Forest Engineering 9: 33-40.
Gscholar

(13)

Granhus A, Fjeld D (2001)
Spatial distribution of injuries to Norway spruce advance growth after selection harvesting. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31: 1903-1913.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(14)

Hämäläinen J (2014)
Poimintahakkuun nykykäytännöt: työohjeistus, ajanmenekki ja korjuujälki [Current practices for selective logging: work instructions, time cost and harvesting results]. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, pp. 92. [in Finnish]
Gscholar

(15)

Hansen AJ, Spies TA, Swanson FJ, Ohmann JL (1991)
Conserving biodiversity in managed forests. BioScience 41: 382-392.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(16)

Jonsson R (2015)
Prestation och kostnader i blädning med skördare och skotare [Performance and costs in selective harvesting with harvester and forwarder]. Report of the Forest Research Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. 863. [in Swedish]
Gscholar

(17)

Juutinen A, Ahtikoski A, Mäkipää R, Shanin V (2018)
Effect of harvest interval and intensity on the profitability of uneven-aged management of Norway spruce stands. Forestry 91: 14.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(18)

Karlsson B (2006)
Trakthyggesbruk och kontinuitetsskogsbruk med gran, en jämförande studie [Rotation forestry and continuous cover forestry with spruce, a comparative study]. Skogforsk, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. 40. [in Swedish]
Gscholar

(19)

Kuitto J, Keskinen S, Lindroos J, Ojala T, Räsänen T, Terävä J (1994)
Puutavaran koneellinen hakkuu ja metsakuljetus [Mechanized cutting and forest haulage]. Metsateho Report 410: 1-30. [in Finnish]
Gscholar

(20)

Kuuluvainen T, Tahvonen O, Aakala T (2012)
Even-aged and uneven-aged forest management in Boreal Fennoscandia: a review. Ambio 41: 720-737.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(21)

Laamanen V (2014)
Poimintahakkuukohteiden puuston rakenne, korjuutekniset olosuhteet, korjuukustannukset ja korjuujälki [Selective harvesting structure of the target’s trees, technical conditions, costs and the impact of harvesting]. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, pp. 90.
Gscholar

(22)

Lähde E, Laiho O, Norokorpi Y (1999)
Diversity-oriented silviculture in the Boreal Zone of Europe. Forest Ecology and Management 118: 223-243.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(23)

Laiho O, Lähde E, Norokorpi Y, Saksa T (1995)
Metsikön ja metsiköiden välisen monimuotoisuuden määrittely [Determining the diversity between forests and stands]. Research Papers no. 538, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland, pp. 86-94. [in Finnish]
Gscholar

(24)

Lilleberg R (1999)
Puunkorjuun tuotos ja kustannukset [Output and costs of timber harvesting]. In: Monimuotoisuus talousmetsän uudistamisessa -hankkeen väliraportit (MONTA-hanke) [Economic differences in forest regeneration (MONTA project)]. Metsäteho Oy, Helsinki, Finland, pp. 10-11. [in Finnish]
Gscholar

(25)

Lundqvist L (2017)
Tamm Review: selection system reduces long-term volume growth in Fennoscandic uneven-aged Norway spruce forests. Forest Ecology and Management 391: 362-375.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(26)

Mason W (2015)
Implementing continuous cover forestry in planted forests: experience with Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in the British Isles. Forests 6: 879-902.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(27)

Mason WL, Diaci J, Carvalho J, Valkonen S (2022)
Continuous cover forestry in Europe: usage and the knowledge gaps and challenges to wider adoption. Forestry 95: 1-12.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(28)

Niebel B (1988)
Motion and time study (8th edn). Irwin, Boston, MA, USA, pp. 888.
Gscholar

(29)

Niemistö P, Korpunen H, Laurén A, Salomäki M, Uusitalo J (2012)
Impact and productivity of harvesting while retaining young understorey spruces in final cutting of downy birch. Silva Fennica 46: 81-97.
Gscholar

(30)

Nurminen T, Korpunen H, Uusitalo J (2006)
Time consumption analysis of the mechanized cut-to-length harvesting system. Silva Fennica 40.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(31)

Nuutinen Y (2013)
Possibilities to use automatic and manual timing in time studies on harvester operations. Dissertationes Forestales 156: 68.
Gscholar

(32)

Nuutinen Y, Miina J, Saksa T, Bergström D, Routa J (2021)
Comparing the characteristics of boom-corridor and selectively thinned stands of Scots pine and birch. Silva Fennica 55 (3): 10462.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(33)

Nyman D (2016)
Kalhyggesfritt skogsbruk-lätt avverkning eller hård gallring? En översikt av vår nygamla skogsbruksmetod [Clearcutting-free forestry - light felling or hard thinning? An overview of our new old forestry method]. University of Applied Science NOVIA, Raasepori, Finland, pp. 60. [in Finnish]
Gscholar

(34)

Ovaskainen H, Uusitalo J, Väätäinen K (2004)
Characteristics and significance of a harvester operators’ working technique in thinnings. International Journal of Forest Engineering 15: 67-77.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(35)

Ovaskainen H (2009)
Timber harvester operators’ working technique in first thinning and the importance of cognitive abilities on work productivity. Dissertationes Forestales 79: 62.
Gscholar

(36)

Palander T, Ovaskainen H, Tikkanen L (2012)
An adaptive work study method for identifying the human factors that influence the performance of a human-machine system. Forest Science 58: 377-389.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(37)

Parkatti V-P, Assmuth A, Rämö J, Tahvonen O (2019)
Economics of boreal conifer species in continuous cover and rotation forestry. Forest Policy and Economics 100: 55-67.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(38)

Peura M, Burgas D, Eyvindson K, Repo A, Mönkkönen M (2018)
Continuous cover forestry is a cost-efficient tool to increase multifunctionality of boreal production forests in Fennoscandia. Biological Conservation 217: 104-112.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(39)

Pommerening A, Murphy ST (2004)
A review of the history, definitions and methods of continuous cover forestry with special attention to afforestation and restocking. Forestry 77: 27-44.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(40)

Puettmann KJ, Wilson SM, Baker SC, Donoso PJ, Drössler L, Amente G, Harvey BD, Knoke T, Lu Y, Nocentini S, Putz FE, Yoshida T, Bauhus J (2015)
Silvicultural alternatives to conventional even-aged forest management - what limits global adoption? Forest Ecosystems 2: 8.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(41)

Pukkala T, Lahde E, Laiho O (2010)
Optimizing the structure and management of uneven-sized stands of Finland. Forestry 83: 129-142.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(42)

Pyy J, Laitinen E, Ahtikoski A (2020)
Demonstrating the effect of height variation on stand-level optimization with diameter-structured matrix model. Forests 11 (2): 226.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(43)

R Core Team (2020)
R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
Online | Gscholar

(44)

Rämö J, Tahvonen O (2014)
Economics of harvesting uneven-aged forest stands in Fennoscandia. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 29: 777-792.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(45)

Rämö J, Tahvonen O (2015)
Economics of harvesting boreal uneven-aged mixed-species forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 45: 1102-1112.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(46)

Rämö J, Tahvonen O (2017)
Optimizing the harvest timing in continuous cover forestry. Environmental and Resource Economics 67: 853-868.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(47)

Sinha A, Rämö J, Malo P, Kallio M, Tahvonen O (2017)
Optimal management of naturally regenerating uneven-aged forests. European Journal of Operational Research 256: 886-900.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(48)

Sirén M, Hyvönen J, Surakka H (2015)
Tree damage in mechanized uneven-aged selection cuttings. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering 36: 33-42.
Online | Gscholar

(49)

Surakka H, Sirén M (2007)
Poimintahakkuiden puunkorjuun nykytietämys ja tutkimustarpeet [Selection harvesting: state of the art and future directions]. Metsätieteen aikakauskirja 4: 373-390. [in Finnish]
CrossRef | Gscholar

(50)

Surakka H, Sirén M, Heikkinen J, Valkonen S (2011)
Damage to saplings in mechanized selection cutting in uneven-aged Norway spruce stands. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 26: 232-244.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(51)

Tahvonen O, Viitala E-J (2006)
Does Faustmann rotation apply to fully regulated forests? Forest Science 52: 23-30.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(52)

Tahvonen O (2009)
Optimal choice between even- and uneven-aged forestry. Natural Resource Modeling 22: 289-321.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(53)

Tahvonen O, Pukkala T, Laiho O, Lähde E, Niinimäki S (2010)
Optimal management of uneven-aged Norway spruce stands. Forest Ecology and Management 260: 106-115.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(54)

Tahvonen O (2011)
Optimal structure and development of uneven-aged Norway spruce forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 41: 2389-2402.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(55)

Tahvonen O, Rämö J (2016)
Optimality of continuous cover vs. clear-cut regimes in managing forest resources. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 46: 891-901.
CrossRef | Gscholar

(56)

Valkonen S, Aulus Giacosa L, Heikkinen J (2020)
Tree mortality in the dynamics and management of uneven-aged Norway spruce stands in southern Finland. European Journal of Forest Research 139: 989-998.
CrossRef | Gscholar

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

Contents

Search

Journal Info

Journal Subjects and Fields

For Authors

For Reviewers

For Readers

SISEF Publishing

Search iForest Contents