A method for economic assessment of logging damage on forest stand and regeneration

This study proposes a method for estimation of the size and monetary value of logging damage in forest stands and on regeneration. In order to perform economic assessment of damage on regeneration and stands as a whole, each damage factor was taken into consideration and its estimated impact was converted into a coefficient. The economic damage resulting from harvesting and timber extraction was estimated with the aid of mathematical models which converted quantitative into qualitative data. In a case study from northern Iran, felling and bucking resulted in 3.2% of the regeneration being damaged, and 0.16% could have been prevented. Furthermore, with winching and skidding operations another 4.8% of regeneration was damaged, out of which 0.38% could have been prevented. The total value of preventable damage on regeneration was US $5.14 ha−1 for each logging operation. The damage from felling and bucking operations amounted to 13.6% of residual trees in the stand, which was equivalent to $151 ha−1 per year. Total preventable damage in various logging activities was estimated to be 15.5%, which was equivalent to $354 ha−1 per year. The total value of damage resulting from logging operations was estimated to be $360 ha−1.