Colombia Forestry Development Program. Forest Planning and Timber Harvesting.

摘要

The purpose of this project is (1) to assist local consultants to define timber harvesting plans for the prefeasibility analysis for the new forestry enterprise in Northeast Antioquia and (2) to guide and assist local consultants and the CFDP team in developing budgets and the schedule of investments in infrastructure and equipment associated with the new forestry enterprise. In order to develop the operational plan for the first eight years, a prefeasibility study will be developed by Servicios y Consultoria Ltda. for the purpose of estimating equipment requirements for logging, hauling, road construction, and cash flows for three logging scenarios (4 m, 8 m, and 12 m logs). Based upon projected tree size, considerations of topography, and existing infrastructure the harvesting and transport of 8m logs appears to be the most cost effective wood production alternative in the short run. In the longer run, 12 m logs may provide opportunities to reduce logging costs, particularly if good, used logging equipment can be imported. Cable yarding operations in the Northeast Antioquia region generally use full suspension. This is cost effective and environmentally sound when yarding bundles of short wood, but yarding costs could be reduced by using partial suspension when bringing in 8 m or longer log lengths. Roads are an important cost component in wood production in Northeast Antioquia. High precipitation, short dry periods, and weak subgrade conditions require aggregate surfacing of roads. Good quality aggregate is scarce and expensive. There are opportunities to reduce road costs through reduced truck wheel loadings and increased road maintenance to protect the road investment. Training opportunities for local managers and engineers are recommended in order to provide exposure to new technologies and planning methods. External engineering assistance in road design, aggregate testing, geotextile use, variable tire inflation, and economic analysis is recommended to examine options to reduce road costs and provide advice for local conditions. To provide wood security for the new forest enterprise, substantial new areas of plantation are to be developed. Site productivity, distance to processing center, topography, and availability of road surfacing materials will be important considerations. As part of the process to identify the most profitable locations for establishing new plantations, a transportation plan should be developed for potential areas so that the cost per m3 for access, logging, and transport can be estimated. Transportation planning will require contour maps of sufficient detail. These maps are not available and should be acquired. New mapping techniques such as LIDAR can be cost effective for providing a digital 3-dimensional map of the terrain for large contiguous areas. Opportunities for LIDAR mapping in Colombia should be examined.