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Mathieu Fortin

Bio: Mathieu Fortin is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Forest management & Logging. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 3 publications receiving 22 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
21 Sep 2018-Forests
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the productivity, costs, and selected environmental impacts of mini forestry crawlers during winching operations through a time study using statistical regression, time consumption was analyzed in order to determine significant explanatory variables.
Abstract: An effective way to reduce off-road traffic in forests is to implement greater distances between skid trails. However, this implies that trees beyond the boom reach of the harvester need to be felled motor manually before being winched to the skid trail, for example using a remote-controlled mini forestry crawler (MFC). They are only a few local studies which have evaluated the performance of such MFCs. The use of MFCs for wood extraction operations in mixed soft- and hardwood stands is presented in this study conducted in Southwestern Germany. The aim of this study was to analyze the productivity, costs, and selected environmental impacts of mini forestry crawlers during winching operations through a time study. Using statistical regression, time consumption was analyzed in order to determine significant explanatory variables. Environmental impacts were evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology with Umberto software. The mean net cycle time was 4.82 min and the net productivity rate was 7.77 m3 by productive machine hour (PMH0). Explanatory variables which significantly affected the net cycle time were the winched volume, the number of trees per load, and winching distance. Environmental analysis showed that inputs of fossil energy were mostly due to diesel and lubricant consumption. Raw materials for machine manufacture and maintenance showed the highest impact in human toxicity potential category. The MFCs showed good environmental performances, but the harvesting system should become more productive in order to be more cost effective.

15 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
16 Aug 2017-Forests
TL;DR: This Geographic Information System (GIS)-based analysis identified appropriate locations for main FDTs and timber harvesting and extraction methods through the use of species suitability maps, topography, and soil sensitivity data.
Abstract: In order to accommodate foreseen climate change in European forests, the following are recommended: (i) to increase the number of tree species and the structural diversity; (ii) to replace unsuitable species by native broadleaved tree species, and (iii) to apply close-to-nature silviculture. The state forest department of Baden-Wurttemberg (BW) currently follows the concept of Forest Development Types (FDTs). However, future climatic conditions will have an impact on these types of forest as well as timber harvesting operations. This Geographic Information System (GIS)-based analysis identified appropriate locations for main FDTs and timber harvesting and extraction methods through the use of species suitability maps, topography, and soil sensitivity data. Based on our findings, the most common FDT in the state forest of BW is expected to be coniferous-beech mixed forests with 29.0% of the total forest area, followed by beech-coniferous (20.5%) and beech-broadleaved (15.4%) mixed forests. Where access for fully mechanized systems is not possible, the main harvesting and extraction methods would be motor manual felling and cable yarding (29.1%). High proportions of large dimensioned trees will require timber extraction using forestry tractors, and these will need to be operated from tractor roads on sensitive soils (23.0%), and from skid trails on insensitive soils (18.4%).

13 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
08 Jun 2021-Forests
TL;DR: In this article, the applicability of a mechanistic model, ZELIG-CFS, to simulate yields and species compositions was examined using the NEBIE (a silvicultural intervention scale) plot network from across Ontario, Canada.
Abstract: In the past two decades, forest management has undergone major paradigm shifts that are challenging the current forest modelling architecture. New silvicultural systems, guidelines for natural disturbance emulation, a desire to enhance structural complexity, major advances in successional theory, and climate change have all highlighted the limitations of current empirical models in covering this range of conditions. Mechanistic models, which focus on modelling underlying ecological processes rather than specific forest conditions, have the potential to meet these new paradigm shifts in a consistent framework, thereby streamlining the planning process. Here we use the NEBIE (a silvicultural intervention scale that classifies management intensities as natural, extensive, basic, intensive, and elite) plot network, from across Ontario, Canada, to examine the applicability of a mechanistic model, ZELIG-CFS (a version of the ZELIG tree growth model developed by the Canadian Forest Service), to simulate yields and species compositions. As silvicultural intensity increased, overall yield generally increased. Species compositions met the desired outcomes when specific silvicultural treatments were implemented and otherwise generally moved from more shade-intolerant to more shade-tolerant species through time. Our results indicated that a mechanistic model can simulate complex stands across a range of forest types and silvicultural systems while accounting for climate change. Finally, we highlight the need to improve the modelling of regeneration processes in ZELIG-CFS to better represent regeneration dynamics in plantations. While fine-tuning is needed, mechanistic models present an option to incorporate adaptive complexity into modelling forest management outcomes.

5 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results showed that the InVEST model provided a reliable basis for ecological source screening by demonstrating the distribution of habitat quality and the integrated network pattern proposed by the “point-line-plane” principle would provide a reference for urban ecological construction and sustainable development.
Abstract: Under the background of urban expansion, ecological protection cannot be delayed. The construction of ecological networks is of considerable significance to ecosystem services. However, in the process of constructing a corridor network, there is no uniform standard for the selection of ecological sources and the determination of cost factors. The InVEST model is an effective complement to ecosystem service assessment for sensitively measuring external threats and their threat intensity. Therefore, taking Wuhan as an example, we combined InVEST and the least cost path model (LCP) to construct a multi-target corridor network with comprehensive cost factors for birds and small terrestrial mammals. The results showed that: (1) The InVEST model provided a reliable basis for ecological source screening by demonstrating the distribution of habitat quality. (2) The corridor with a length of 12–25 km presented a “U” shape, and the impact of urbanization on small terrestrial mammals was more significant than that of birds. (3) The integrated network pattern proposed by the “point-line-plane” principle would provide a reference for urban ecological construction and sustainable development.

34 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a framework for the financial analysis of the environmental measures (programmes) for forestry enterprises is presented, which allows for determining the economic and social effectiveness of environmental measures at the enterprise level.
Abstract: The paper presents a framework for the financial analysis of the environmental measures (programmes) for forestry enterprises. The indicators of the economic and social effectiveness of environmental measures are discussed. The prospects for their implementation in the context of sustainable forest management in Ukraine are analysed. The research focuses on the effectiveness of environmental measures at the level of forestry enterprise. The proposed framework allows for determining the economic and social effectiveness of environmental measures at the enterprise level. To this end, the net discounted income is used to measure the profitability of environmental measures. The payback period is determined to provide an intuition behind the decision to participate in the environmental measures. The proposed framework allows for improving decision support for the national sustainable forestry development programmes not only at the macro level, but also at the level of enterprises.

24 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Jul 2019-Forests
TL;DR: In South Korea, logs for low-value products are primarily extracted from harvest sites and transported to roadside or landing areas using small shovels using a model to estimate productivity under various site conditions, and small-shovel productivity was significantly correlated with stem size and total travelled distance.
Abstract: In South Korea, logs for low-value products, such as pulpwood and fuelwood, are primarily extracted from harvest sites and transported to roadside or landing areas using small shovels Previous studies on log extraction, however, have focused on cable yarding operations with the goal of improving productivity on steep slopes and inaccessible sites, leaving small-shovel operations relatively unexamined Therefore, the main objectives were to determine small-shovel extraction productivity and costs and to evaluate the impact of related variables on productivity In addition, we developed a model to estimate productivity under various site conditions The study took place in 30 case study areas; each area has trees with stems at a diameter at breast height ranging from 18 to 32 cm and a steep slope (greater than 15%) The areas ranged from 241 to 1129 trees per hectare, with conifer, deciduous, and mixed stands Small-shovel drives ranged from 36 to 72 m per extraction cycle from stump to landing The results indicated that the mean extraction productivity of small-shovel operations ranged between 244 to 985 m3 per scheduled machine hour (including all delays) At the forest level, the estimated average stump-to-forest road log production costs were US $437 to 1766/m3 Small-shovel productivity was significantly correlated with stem size (diameter at breast height and tree volume) and total travelled distance (TTD) However, a Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that stand density and slope did not have a significant effect on productivity Our findings provide insights into how stem size and TTD influence small shovel performance and the predictive ability of productivity Further, this information may be a valuable asset to forest planners and managers

16 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a survey of skidders used for timber extraction in Europe is presented, with a focus on the Central European region with Germany and France dominating the market in terms of new sales.
Abstract: As a generalization, harvested timber is extracted from forests either as trees or stems by skidders or as logs by forwarders Coupled with harvesters, forwarders team up to form cut-to-length (CTL) systems that are often perceived to be more modern than full-tree (FT) and tree-length (TL) systems, based on feller bunchers and skidders As a result, CTL machinery has been extensively studied in Europe, while little information is available on FT and TL machinery and especially skidders Using all available documentation, and relying on national experts, this paper reports on a survey of skidders used for timber extraction in Europe The survey identified a total of 8370 skidders, whereby the authors accept this to be a lower limit with potentially many other units not identified through the survey Also, while the focus of the survey was purpose-built skidders, many modified farm tractors are also used to extract tree-length material Of the 8370 skidders, 5500 were found in the Central European region with Germany and France dominating the market The survey also indicated an overall low level of replacement, with fewer than 5% being from new sales annually Although CTL systems are a dominant harvesting option, this survey has shown that skidders continue to be a common and viable extraction method Given their high level of extraction efficiency that is often restricted by a limit of clear-fell operations, further large-scale damaging storm events in Europe may offer a clear opportunity for their expansion

14 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
29 May 2020-Forests
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed a cable-based and a ground-based extraction system that could be applied to a forest stand in a flat and soil-sensitive area and showed that the application of cable based systems in flat terrain must not necessarily be more cost intensive than its application in other terrains.
Abstract: The results of this study showed that the application of cable-based systems in flat terrain must not necessarily be more cost intensive than its application in other terrains. In recent years, criteria other than purely economic ones have been taken into account in forest management decisions, with the aim of avoiding ecosystem damage and promoting better ecosystem services. Since precipitation in winter is becoming more intensive and weeks with frozen soils are becoming rare, one option might be the use of cable-based instead of ground-based extraction systems. Both vary in terms of economy and flexibility. Thus, it is important to make reliable estimates of potential costs and benefits before an operation is conducted. The aim of this study was to analyze a cable-based and a ground-based extraction system that could be applied to a forest stand in a flat and soil-sensitive area. The study, based on a cable-based operation, was conducted in a mixed forest stand that was vulnerable to traffic. Furthermore, we modeled an alternative operation focusing on a ground-based system, addressing the soil vulnerability by considering manual felling, processing, and use of a combi-forwarder for extraction. In the cable-based system, yarding productivity was high (20.3 m3ub/PMH15) due to several reasons, such as a high share of larger dimension timber, the fact that heavy timber was partially de-limbed and processed motor-manually in the stand, the fact that a mini forestry crawler was used for pre-winching the material and finally due to the experience of the operators. Resulting costs for harvesting and extraction were on average €27.8/m3ub. In the ground-based system, costs were on a comparable level (€28.30/m3ub). In our case, the application of a cable yarder in flat terrain was a good alternative and should be considered in future forest management to support environmentally friendly operations and allow independent planning of the operation.

11 citations