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Conducting research into the
cost and benefits of RIL is inherently complicated.
Each study site has its own peculiarities which
are extremely difficult to duplicate.
Forest conditions
vary from flat to very broken terrain and tree
sizes show a similar variability between tropical
forest regions of the world. It has become clear
that the more broken the terrain and/or the larger
the trees, the less difference there will be between
conventional logging and RIL logging.
In addition
the logging activities themselves are influenced
by a wide range of variables such as:
- Skidding distance
- Piece size and weight
- Profile of the skid trail
- Terrain conditions
- Soil conditions
- Weather
- Machine type and condition
- Operator experience
- RIL standards being applied
One of the biggest problems
in trying to quantify the costs and benefits of
RIL, is the different standards and study methodologies
which researchers have applied to this topic.
The result of all this variability, is a corresponding
lack of uniformity of results in RIL productivity
and cost studies.
To-date, one of the most rigorous and definitive
studies on RIL costs and benefits, has been the
work done through TFF in Brazil. A synopsis of
the research results, is available in "Financial
Costs and Benefits of Reduced Impact Logging in
the Eastern Amazon".
TFF-Indonesia has participated with a number of
concession in conducting in-house operational
trials intended to give a quick evaluation of
the productivity benefits of adopting RIL. Results
of such studies will be published in the "RIL
& Certification" newsletter from time to time.
For the results of a recent study refer to the
article "Investigating the Benefits of an RIL
System" in the April
2004 issue of the "RIL & Certification Newsletter".
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