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Investigation
of timber harvesting mechanization progress in Turkey
Murat Demir
Department of Forest Construction and Transportation,
Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University, 34473 Bahcekoy /
Sariyer / Istanbul / Turkey. E-mail:
mdemir@istanbul.edu.tr. Tel : +90-(212)-2261100 (12
Lines) Extension: 25289. Fax number: +90-212-2261113.
Accepted 1 February, 2010 |
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This
study was aimed at investigating
different timber transportation methods and harvesting
mechanization progress level of Turkey. Furthermore, major
problems of timber harvesting in Turkey and the future
principles and objectives were defined. Timber harvesting in Turkey is still carried out by manual
methods due to economical, social and environmental
constraints. Almost 80% of harvesting activities are
mechanized in many developed countries while this value is
only 13% in Turkey. Overall ratio of mechanization is
relatively low. Approximate percentage of man power, animal
power, machine power and skyline harvesting are 72, 15, 8
and 5%, respectively.
Turkish General Directorate of Forestry’s timber harvesting
machines total amount was 448 in 1982, 859 in 1998, 457 in
2005 and 376 in 2009. Timber harvesting machines amount was reduced to 20
tractors (4 x 4 and assembled shovel), 133 skidding winches,
5 tractors with equipment of snow cleaner, 38 forklifts, 18
loaders, 30 skylines, 61 agricultural tractors, 3
agricultural tractors with shovel, 67
trucks, 1 barking machines as at 2009. In spite of
existence of substantial number of harvesters, the amount of
modern harvesting processor in Turkey is not sufficient.
Different type and marked machines have not been taken into
consideration to improve mechanization, and a poor
standardization in harvesting is another problem in Turkey.
Total machine park amount has been reduced to 56.2% between
1998 - 2009. Forest main
repair shops should be opened again in Turkey.
Key words:
Timber transportation, transportation methods, harvesting
mechanization, forest harvesting, Turkey. |
