Using plastic chutes for extracting small logs and short pieces of wood from forests in Artvin, Turkey

Over 80% of extraction operations in Turkish forest are practiced with man power as skidding or sliding, but these methods have technical, ergonomic and environmental problems. Using plastic log chute in extraction operations in slopes with a gradient of 20% or more can reduce these problems, and chutes can be used for sliding small logs or short pieces of wood downhill. In this study, two polyethylene chute (AcarOLUKPeF50/600- AcarOLUKPeD60/600) and one fiberglass chute (AcarOLUKFb50/500) systems in extraction operations in mountainous area were evaluated in Artvin, Turkey. The study revealed that AcarOLUKPeF50/600 plastic chute was the most productive (42.86 stere/h) and AcarOLUKFb50/500 was the least (15.12 stere/h). It was also determined that using of plastic chute was ergonomic and could reduce the damage to tree roots, seedlings and trunk of remaining trees.