LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF LOGGING DAMAGES ON QUALITY OF RESIDUAL TREES IN THE ASALEM NAV FOREST

Introduction Chainsaw and cable skidder are two main logging machines for wood harvesting in the Caspian forests. Selection cutting is the main silvicultural method in these forests. Harvesting in the Caspian forests has the potential to damage the trees that are left standing. Damages to residual trees during the selection cutting operation may decrease the quality of residual trees and increase stand mortality through insect and disease infestation. The wounds can cause stem deformity and significant losses of the final crop volume and value. The wound characteristics such as size, location, and intensity are the main factors that influence on the future quality of damaged trees. Logging damages to the residual trees increase as the time passes. The literature review shows that minor damage to the stem of residual trees during logging operation can have a major impact on the final stand volume as future saw logs. In the Caspian forests, many studies focused on the primary logging damage (immediately after logging operation) and a few studies were done on the secondary logging damage (after years). The objective of this research was to study the condition of logging wounds on residual trees after 12 years elapsed in the Caspian forests.