Constitution of the forest road evaluation form for Turkish forestry

Abstract

It is highly important to describe the capabilities of existing forest roads in terms of all the functions assigned to them in line with forestry objectives and to define their conditions of utilization in the future. This study aimed at determining and grading the factors that are required to make an evaluation concerning the forest roads and preparing an evaluation form for them. Twenty-three evaluation factors and indicators that subgroup these factors were defined to evaluate forest roads. The method of
Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to define the significance rates at the step of factor evaluation. Survey method was applied for expert group evaluation. Significance rates of the factors were found through an evaluation of the data obtained. After the significance rates of the factors that were regarded at the outset as significant factors for evaluation of roads were defined, factors having a significance rate of lower than 2% were extracted and calculation was repeated accordingly. After four
iterations, the forest road evaluation form was prepared with 13 factors. Factors in the form and their respective significance rates were defined as vertical slope value, 12.73%; condition of superstructure, 6.89%; condition of art structure and its compliance with the draining system, 5.71%; availability of continuous access, 5.17%; transportation costs, 3.94%; availability of fire protection 12.37%; proneness to develop erosion and any water quality problem 11.45%; the risk of land-slide due to high hillside slope 12.55%; proneness to make pressure on water courses 5.97%; risk to damage or annihilate the wild habitats 5.63%; eligibility for forestry works 2.64% and eligibility for utilization for security 6.45%.
The evaluation form was prepared as practical and handy to use.