Forest Road Operations in the Tropics

Forest road operations include all the activities to plan, design, construct, and maintain the infrastructure needed to move forest products from the ro- side to the mill or port destination. Poor road management can jeopardize the economics of the forestry enterprise and can impact water quality and wildlife habitat. Sustainable forest management is concerned with management of the tra- portation infrastructure in such a way that efficient transportation is provided while controlling adverse environmental impacts. Much of the direct impact of forest roads can be reduced through proper planning and control of road location, design, construction, and maintenance using principles, systems, and techniques common to temperate forests. However, many areas of the tropics pose unique operating conditions: p- longed wet periods, high-intensity precipitation, swamps, and lack of rock for suitable road surfacing. The purpose of this book is to bring together information on road planning, location, design, construction, and maintenance to support environmentally acceptable operations in tropical forests. It highlights the challenges of road operations in the tropics, includes techniques that have been shown to be successful, and discusses newer technologies. It is intended as a reference book for the forest engineer and others interested in the planning and management of tropical forests. Numerical examples, where appropriate, are included to provide clarity for interpreting graphs, procedures, and formulas. The book is divided into 11 chapters which cover the various facets of road management from design objectives through practices to control environm- tal impacts.