Assessment of residual stand damages associated with three preventive methods in ground- skidding

Skidding by ground-base Machines in mountainous forests of northern Iran on selective cutting leads to physical damages of residual stand, lowering of stem quality and tree value in border skid trail. In present research, two conventional methods (picket-wood and machine tire) as well as rubberized - stem were evaluated for preventing damage to surrounding stand and compared with the control. In this regard the study was carried out in parcel 212 of Shorab district, in Golband Forest. Following the end of skidding operation, affected area for any single tree was measured. and data were subjected to analysis of variance. Differences among means were determined by Duncan test. Results showed significant statistical differences between scar severities due to skidding operation in different stem protection methods. Based on the obtained results, picket-wood, machine tire and the control trees were in class one and Rubberize-stem was in class two. Furthermore, there were significant difference between scars in two angle class (100 -140 and 140-180 grade) and the scar height classes. Use of rubberized-stem in skidding operation, will result in fewer trees affected and less scar dimensions..