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Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2003. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-109). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Over the past decade the South African forestry industry has gradually experienced the ramifications of labour scarcity, increases in labour costs, the effect of HIV and AIDS and increasing timber demand. Consequently, this has led to an increase in the mechanisation rate, especially in timber harvesting operations. Due to the labour challenges in South Africa, mechanised forestry equipment has increasingly been required to operate in complex forest conditions, such as coppiced compartments, where they have not operated before. It therefore occurs that harvesters are either used in certain coppiced compartments with uncertain productivity expectations, or the harvesters are not used in these compartments due to a lack of productivity knowledge. The influence that certain factors have on harvester productivity and stump volume loss – factors such as coppice regeneration practices and stem form – is poorly understood and has not been quantified. No scientific research exists regarding the effects of coppice compartments on the productivity of a harvester and the amount of stump volume waste. This research aimed at determining the influence of tree volume, tree form, stem felled first and distance between stems on the productivity of an excavator based harvester in coppiced double, coppiced single and planted Eucalyptus grandis pulpwood compartments. Furthermore, the research determined whether there was any stump volume waste, and quantified how much of it was due to excessive stump heights by the harvester. Through regression analysis, productivity equations were derived to make productivity predictions in both coppiced and planted compartments. All stumps were evaluated for waste and the average stump volume waste in coppiced double, coppiced single and planted trees was determined. The research results showed that planted trees had the highest productivity across all tree sizes, followed by coppiced single trees and then coppiced double stems. When harvesting a 0.2 m3 tree, the mean harvester productivity was 8.7 m3 per PMH in coppiced double trees, 13.8 m3 per PMH in coppiced single trees and 16.1 m3 per PMH in planted trees. In coppiced double stems the productivity was not significantly influence by the distance between stems. However, the productivity was significantly influenced by the stem felled first. The regression results showed that if the smaller stem was felled first, the productivity would increase if the larger stem’s volume was less than 0.18 m3; however where the larger stem was greater than 0.18 m3, the relationship was reversed. In addition, the productivity for both coppiced single trees and coppiced double stems were significantly influenced by stem form. The poorly formed trees had low productivity compared to the trees with good form. The stump volume findings showed that coppiced double stems had the highest average stump volume waste per stump, with 0.00307 m3 waste, followed by coppiced single trees (0.001954 m3) and planted trees (0.001650 m3). The average stump volume waste per stump with waste for the planted trees was negligible. This research provides forestry companies and harvesting contractors with information on the effect of tree volume, tree form and stem felled first on harvester productivity in E. grandis coppiced double, coppiced single and planted compartments. This information will assist in making equipment and system selection decisions and improve operational management and control. In addition, they will also be aware of stump volume losses that will occur in the three scenarios.

Thesis (MS)--University of Montana, 2007. / Contents viewed on April 1, 2010 Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2006. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 113 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Protected forests need to be a representative selection of the natural proportion of forest types, including distribution of productivity levels, age classes and nature types This is important for the possibility to preserve biodiversity. In addition, the protected areas has to be of sufficient size and not isolated from each other, to function as effective biodiversity preservers. The question is, how does it look in reality? The objective with this study was to get an overall picture of the current forest protection situation in Östergötland, Sweden, and how it has changed the last 60 years. Are all ecologically relevant forest habitat types represented in appropriate proportions in protected forests? To evaluate where the protected areas are located in relation to each other, a connectivity index was calculated for each patch of protected area. Together with a value for size, a value index was created and applied to all protected areas, and it turns out that the protected areas of Östergötland is not totally representative when it comes to nature types, age classes and levels of productivity.For example, there is an underrepresentation of both pine and spruce forests on high-productivity soils. However, areas with higher productivity levels have been protected over time. The age distribution seems to be skewed towards older forests in protected areas. There are some underrepresented nature types, as well as overrepresented ones in nature reserves, a small overrepresentation of unproductive impediments, and only spruce and mixed forests seems well connected in the landscape. The greatest differences in protected and unprotected forests is the productivity level, were focus should be on protecting higher productivity areas in order to succeed in preserving the biodiversity of forests as intended.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1993. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-88). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-97).