This is a fully automated machine translation. The quality and accuracy of machine translation can vary from one text to another and between different language pairs. Forest Knowledge Gateway admins do not guarantee the accuracy of the translation and accept no liability for possible errors. Please refer to the original text in its original English version if there is any doubt. Some content (such as images, videos, files, HTML links and acronyms) may not be translated or may be inaccurate due to the technical limitations of the system.
Menu

Integrative Forest Management Guidelines

P6-A2 Restricting machine traffic

photo

Machine traffic can cause severe and long-lasting soil disturbances that harm forest health and productivity. Restricting machine traffic to a planned extraction network helps mitigate these impacts.

Introduction

Restricting machine traffic to an existing extraction network means concentrating harvesting machinery on planned skid trails or strip roads rather than driving across the entire stand. This approach reduces the area exposed to soil compaction, rutting and other physical disturbances that can persist for decades and impair soil structure, water infiltration, root growth and long-term forest productivity. Careful planning of extraction trails is one of the most effective measures for minimizing environmental impacts while maintaining efficient harvesting operations. Successful implementation depends on using designated extraction trails, limiting unnecessary machine passes, considering slope, soil type and soil moisture when planning operations, and avoiding traffic during periods when soils are particularly vulnerable to damage.