Investigation of timber harvesting mechanization progress in Turkey

Abstract

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.