Student:	Saliha ÜNVER
Supervisor:	Prof.Dr. H.Hulusi ACAR
Department:	Orman Mühendisliği
Institution:	Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences
University:	Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey

Title of the Thesis:	Determining Environmental and Quantitative Effects of Human Power Based Ground
Level:	Ph.D.
Acceptance Date:	19/12/2008
Number of Pages:	123
Registration Number:	Di665

Summary:

Production of wood material involves felling, primary transportation, and hauling

phases. Among these phases, primary transportation is the most difficult and the most

expensive phase with the highest environmentally damages. Evaluation of primary

transportation by determining residual stand damage and forest soil disturbance in terms of

environmental aspects and by determining value lost of the forest products in terms of

economical aspects is very important.

effects of human power based ground skidding operations on transported logs, residual trees,

saplings, and forest soil in mountainous terrain, to compare these effects according to

production periods (summer and winter), and to predetermine the damages on skidded logs.

Enterprise in Trabzon during the summer and winter production periods of 2004-2007. The

effects of skidding operation on logs, residual trees, saplings, and forest soil were determined

and compared according to production periods. Besides, a “damage prediction model” was

developed by considering volume lost of the damaged logs in summer and winter production

areas, friction resistance on logs, ground contact area of the logs, and skidding distance

parameters.

The results indicated that the damages on skidded logs, residual trees, saplings, and

forest soil in the summer production areas were more than the damages in winter production

areas. These damages result in negative consequences in terms of sustainability and

productivity of forest ecosystem, great economical losses. Thus, improved and

environmentally friendly transportation systems should be implemented. The damage

prediction model developed in this study enables predetermination of skidding related log

volume losses before the skidding operation and taking damage prevention measures.

Key Words: Spruce (Picea orientalis), Skidding by Man Power on Ground,

Environmental Damages, Damage Prediction Model, Mountainously Terrain