A COMPARISON IN TERMS OF CARBON EMISSIONS, COST AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE MOST USED TECHNOLOGIES IN THE YOUNG THINNED STANDS – THE CASE OF ROMANIA

Reduction of Green House Gases (GHG) emissions represents a challenge for today’s industries (as it is stated by the Kyoto Protocol) as a prerequisite for the sustainable development and environment protection. Usually, the latter are regarded as complementary strategies in attaining the overall goal.Timber harvesting represents one of the most technical components of the overall timber production process. In most cases it is realized using heavy machinery which is deployed in mature stands to be harvested. The participation level of the machinery tends to increase in the case of stands from which the primary production results. Due to the increased densities of the stands (in thinning), animal means are used, frequently, for timber logging, which can be associated with increased capacity mechanized means. This paper presents an evaluation of production efficiency, fuel consumption, costs and carbon emissions using comparisons between animal logging and mechanized logging means. As resulted from the study, the utilization of animal logging is less efficient from the productive and cost point of view but it is cleaner (no carbon emissions). Data presented in this paper may provide the necessary tools for developing policies related to timber harvesting and carbon emissions.